The Lakers played themselves to the edge of their championship run on Tuesday night, to a place they've been before, and so they know the looks of it, and the growing gloom of it.

For at least one game, and perhaps two, the Lakers will play for nothing less than to maintain what they've done for nearly four years, to extend their three championships, teetering on elimination in the Western Conference semifinals, now by the breadth of Robert Horry's three-point miss near the final horn.

Despite a near collapse in the fourth quarter, the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Lakers, 96-94, at SBC Center and lead the best-of-seven series, three games to two. Game 6 is Thursday night in Los Angeles, where the Lakers won two games over the weekend, the second without Coach Phil Jackson.