The Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO - If history is any indication, the San Antonio Spurs took the first step to another ride down the River Walk to celebrate their third NBA championship in six years.

The Spurs defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 88-78 on Sunday in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series at the SBC Center. Game 2 will be Wednesday, and the series shifts to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4.

This is the fifth time in the past six seasons that the Spurs and Lakers have met in the playoffs. And the winner of Game 1 of the previous four series has gone on to win the NBA title.

Utilizing a late 21-3 run and a suffocating defensive scheme in the fourth quarter, the Spurs made the Lakers look as if they were still in training camp. One bumbling Lakers turnover after another turned into easy transition baskets for the Spurs, who won their 16th consecutive game.

"You've got to give some credit to the Spurs' defense," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.

"There's not a whole lot of secrets about what we do and what they do," said Tim Duncan, who scored 12 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter. "It's about going out there and imposing your own will and just continuing to push and believe in what you're doing."

• In New Orleans, the Hornets did just enough down the stretch to beat the Miami Heat 89-83 and force a Game 7 Tuesday.

"They were on their deathbeds today," Heat forward Lamar Odom said. "They're going to come out a little harder. We expected it, and they won a good game, a hard-fought game."