Los Angeles Lakers (1)

vs. San Antonio Spurs (3)

Season series: The teams split the regular-season series 2-2, with each winning twice at home. The Spurs played shorthanded in the two road games - they were without Tim Duncan and Tony Parker in their first loss at Los Angeles and without Manu Ginobili on April 13.

How they got there: The Lakers swept the Denver Nuggets in four games, then defeated the Utah Jazz in six. The Spurs defeated the Phoenix Suns in five games and the New Orleans Hornets in seven.

Matchup to watch: The Lakers' Kobe Bryant vs. the Spurs' Bruce Bowen. Bryant, the league's MVP and ultimate playmaker, averaged 24.3 points vs. the Spurs this season, but also had 17 turnovers in the four regular-season games. Bowen is one of the league's top defenders.

Lakers will win if: Bryant continues to dominate in the postseason. He is averaging 33.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists in 10 games. Bryant has also been good at incorporating teammates Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom into the game plan down the stretch.

Spurs will win if: Duncan can dominate the middle. The Lakers don't have a player who can match up with him. He is averaging 16 boards and 16.8 points in the Spurs' last five games. Also, Ginobili can be tough to defend down the stretch. He's known for knocking down threes and driving to the basket.

X factor: Postseason experience, and that favors the Spurs. They are led by the ring-laden trio of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili. While the Spurs can look sluggish at times, their experience tends to be the deciding factor.

Injury factor: Bryant's back injury suffered in Game 5 against the Jazz should be a non-factor. He played through it in Game 6, and he has had several days to rest it. The Lakers are still without center Andrew Bynum (injured knee). The Spurs have no injuries to report.

The numbers game: The two franchises have combined to win seven of the last nine NBA championships. The Lakers have won three (2000-02), and the Spurs have four (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007). The matchup also pairs two of the league best postseason coaches - the Lakers' Phil Jackson and the Spurs' Gregg Popovich. Jackson has won an NBA playoff record 187 games. Popovich is tied for third with 100.

And the winner is: The defending champion Spurs in six games.