San Antonio hopes to bounce back from a rare loss and pick up the first win on the team's annual rodeo road trip Thursday when the Spurs face off with the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in Hollywood .

Each year around this time the Spurs pack their bags while the annual San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo takes over the AT&T Center . Historically, the long trips have actually been very successful for Gregg Popovich's team, which has compiled a 44-20 mark in the previous eight rodeo road trips since moving into the AT&T Center .

This year's version began with a loss in Portland on Tuesday and will last 17 days, encompassing 8,965 miles as the Spurs visit nine different cities. After tonight's contest, San Antonio , which is 15-6 as the visitor this season, will face off with Sacramento , Detroit , Toronto , Philadelphia , Washington , New Jersey and Chicago before returning to south Texas .

All-Star hopeful LaMarcus Aldridge helped spoil the opener of the trek for the Spurs by posting a career-high 40 points to go with 11 rebounds, as the Trail Blazers topped San Antonio, 99-86, at the Rose Garden.

MVP candidate Manu Ginobili led the Spurs with 17 points and DeJuan Blair added 14 points with 12 rebounds for San Antonio , which had a three-game winning streak snapped. Tim Duncan and Richard Jefferson scored 15 and 10 points, respectively, in the loss.

The Lakers, meanwhile, snapped a rare two-game skid at Staples Center on Tuesday when Kobe Bryant scored 32 points and dished out 11 assists, as Los Angeles posted a 114-106 overtime victory over the Houston Rockets despite missing oft-injured center Andrew Bynum.

Pau Gasol finished with 26 points and 16 rebounds, Lamar Odom totaled 20 points and a season-high 20 boards and Derek Fisher added 11 points for the Lakers, as Bynum at out with a balky left knee.

"I didn't like the way we closed the game; that was disappointing," said Los Angeles head coach Phil Jackson. "We got a hold of what they were doing in the overtime and found a way to win."

Bynum, who also missed the first 24 games of the season due to surgery on his right knee, was diagnosed with a bone bruise after an MRI Tuesday.

"I'm not so sure it's just going to be one game, but it's a game-by-game decision," Jackson said when queried about Bynum's status.

The Lakers, who are 19-7 on their home floor, will also hit the road after tonight's contest for a seven-game road trip while the Grammys take over Staples Center .

San Antonio has won two straight regular season meeting with LA, including a 97-82 rout in the Alamo City on Dec. 28.

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