Four and out for the Lakers season

The Lakers put up almost no fight Sunday against the Spurs at Staples Center. Dwight Howard got tossed for picking up two technical fouls, and Pau Gasol spent the last few minutes sitting on the bench next to Kobe Bryant, who was in a suit and on crutches. Steve Nash, Steve Blake and Metta World Peace all missed the game with injuries. The final: 103-82. So the ignominious season, and possibly a Lakers era, ends with a four-game sweep in which the Lakers were not really competitive in any game. Howard has to decide if he will be back with the Lakers, Bryant is facing a long rehab from his achilles tear, and there are lots of others choices facing the Lakers, including the future of coach Mike D'Antoni.

The Clippers, meanwhile, are tied 2-2 in their first-round series with Memphis. In hockey, the Kings open the Stanley Cup playoffs this week in St. Louis and the Ducks host the Detroit Red Wings.

Cropped screen grab from NBA.com