Los Angeles ? From Jack Nicholson screaming at the officials to Devean George doing his best Willis Reed impersonation, there was a desperation surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers that brought out the best in them.

Playing with the focus and determination of a proud team facing a must-win situation, the Lakers defeated San Antonio, 110-95, Friday night to cut the Spurs’ lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.

Kobe Bryant displayed his usual offensive brilliance, scoring 10 of his 39 points in the first 1:36 of the fourth quarter to extend an 81-67 lead to 91-69.

Shaquille O’Neal had 21 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists; Derek Fisher scored 14, and Robert Horry had 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Aside from Nicholson’s tirade at the referees midway through the second quarter, the most shocking sight of the night was the return of George to the starting lineup four days after severely spraining his left ankle.

Just as Reed did for the New York Knicks in Game 7 of the NBA Finals 33 years ago against the Lakers, George scored the game’s first four points on two jump shots. He finished with a career playoff-high 13 points as the Lakers never trailed.

The Lakers' Kobe Bryant showboats after a dunk in Los Angeles' 110-95 victory over the Spurs. L.A. won Friday in Los Angeles.

Game 4 in the second-round playoff series will be played Sunday at Staples Center, with Game 5 Tuesday night in San Antonio.

George replaced Rick Fox in the starting lineup during the opening-round series against Minnesota after Fox went down with a torn tendon in his left foot, and the Lakers missed George in Game 2 when the ankle injury kept him on the bench.

“He came into my office 25 minutes before the game and said he was OK to play,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.

No NBA team has come back to win a best-of-seven series after losing the first three games, and the Lakers had no interest in trying to become the first.