Bryant’s not the lone star

SAN ANTONIO —  The Lakers found themselves in a miserably cold part of Texas, desperately seeking warmth, shelter and one other thing -- a road victory against a title contender.

They survived the weather and, of greater impact, the San Antonio Spurs, beating them, 100-96, and filing away another accomplishment in a season quickly filling up with them.

Kobe Bryant had another well-rounded game -- 34 points, eight assists and six rebounds -- but Ronny Turiaf had the play of the game Wednesday at AT&T; Center, a six-foot jump hook over his NBA idol, Tim Duncan, that put the Lakers ahead, 98-93, with 9.9 seconds left.

The Lakers (26-13) are now within half a game of the Spurs for third in the Western Conference with a game in Dallas tonight.

They have been regarded around the league as curiosity pieces, an interesting blend of experience and youth who have fought through injuries and taken advantage of a home-friendly schedule to become a player in the West.

That they were 7-9 on the road, with baffling losses to Charlotte, Memphis, Seattle and Portland, not to mention a 1-3 road record against Houston, Dallas and Utah, seemed to be holding them back.

But a victory in San Antonio tends to change opinions for the better, even though the Spurs are looking older, less mobile and a little more on edge than in recent years.

“We value a road win, especially against a team like this,” Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said, before adding a dose of caution. “You know that line in that movie, ‘Let’s not start patting each other on the back quite yet.’ That’s one of those things. San Antonio’s a little bit hurt, they’re playing a little bit down right now. We’re happy for the win, but we’re not going to crown ourselves yet.”

Kwame Brown is expected back next week from a severely sprained ankle, and Lamar Odom is also likely to join him, but the Lakers continue to win even though two-thirds of their starting frontcourt have missed a combined 26 games.

Bryant has pulled double duty as a scorer and playmaker, and enough role players have joined him at the right time.

Their effort Wednesday was no different. Bryant was the only starter with more than eight points, but Vladimir Radmanovic had 13, Maurice Evans had 11 and Turiaf had only four points but no two were bigger than his shot over Duncan.

“Tim Duncan’s my idol,” Turiaf said. “I just saw him play so many times on tapes and stuff. For me to be able to go out there and score over him was kind of special.”

Turiaf took a feed from Luke Walton and headed for the hoop, banking in a hook that gave the Lakers the final push they needed.

Turiaf signed with the Lakers a year ago Wednesday, beginning a comeback from open-heart surgery that has successfully continued this season.

“To realize what I’ve been through over the last 12 months is pretty special,” Turiaf said. “It’s really hit me. It’s like, wow, a year ago is when I began here.”

Radmanovic’s official term with the Lakers has been only six months, and his impact had been more muted. But he made all three of his three-point attempts against the Spurs and threw in a baseline dunk over Duncan with 8:56 to play.

“That was a big difference in the ballgame,” Jackson said. “His three-point shooting, his dunk, his steals, little things he did during the course of the game.”

Bryant was also above the rim, surprisingly so, after being slowed by a sore groin that kept him out of practice Tuesday.

With 6:59 left in the third quarter, he blew past Bowen and dunked over Duncan, and, a minute later, lost Bowen with a backdoor cut, took an alley-oop pass from Smush Parker and dunked again over Duncan.

It was Bryant’s 10th career victory in San Antonio. He chose to talk more about his teammates afterward.

“I’ve been through these battles before,” Bryant said. “It’s fun to see them go through them.”

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com

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KEYS TO THE GAME

* Kobe Bryant had 34 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and he kept the Lakers in the game in the first half with 20 points on eight-for-10 shooting.

* Vladimir Radmanovic had 13 points on five-for-seven shooting. He made all three of his three-point shots, uncorked a surprising dunk over Tim Duncan, and also had two steals.

* Ronny Turiaf, who signed with the Lakers exactly a year ago Wednesday, made a jump hook that banked in from six feet out, giving the Lakers a 98-93 lead with 9.9 seconds to play.

-- MIKE BRESNAHAN