The Lakers clinched the Pacific Division with last night’s 102-95 victory at San Antonio, LA’s 2nd consecutive Texas triumph coming on the heels of Wednesday’s nearly identical scoreline in Houston.  Spurs coach Greg Popovich witnessed Kobe Bryant running riot over the Rockets after considerable provocation from Houston’s Ron Artest, learning a lesson in the process (albeit one that proved to be little help 24 hours later).  From the Press-Enterprise’s Jeff Eisenberg :

“I just wish I could have heard what was being said because Kobe was looking at him like, ‘What’s this guy doing?'” Popovich said, chuckling. “I didn’t know what Artest was saying or what Kobe was saying back, but it went on for a while. I was getting a kick out of it.”

Fueled by Artest’s barrage of trash talk, Bryant scored 31 of his game-high 37 points in the second half on Wednesday, rallying the Lakers to a come-from-behind victory over the Rockets.

“Don’t talk to him, don’t even look him in the eye,” Popovich said. “Stay away from him.”