Kings Solid but Kobe & Lakers Win 105-117

The Kings played 3 1/2 quarters of great basketball staying on top of the Lakers. It was a intense game like the Kings-Lakers rivalry is always. But Kobe, as usual, led the Lakers with 17 of his 34 points in the 4th quarter, part of a 24-5 run to give Pau Gasol his first win at Sacramento. The 43-18 Lakers are just a better team, but the Kings reminded everyone how well they can play too.

1ST QUARTER

The energy was bursting in a sold out Arco Arena (only the 2nd time), a rivalry renewed for another season. Kings and Lakers fans alike gathered to see 2 teams battle it out for the 8th year. The Kings started off with a balanced 6-0 run, but the Lakers trailed behind them. One thing I never thought would happen for a while, Kevin Martin shut down Kobe Bryant for 2 points, while he got 12 points. It was great to see his defense step up against him because usually Ron Artest defends him. Martin came out on fire with 12 first quarter points. John Salmons played his part for the first time in a while, scoring 6 points in the quarter. Gasol led the Lakers with 10 points as the Kings led 33-27.

2ND QUARTER

Salmons made 7 straight points for the Kings as they began their push to pull away from the Lakers. For almost 5 minutes, the Lakers missed 7 straight shots and had 2 turnovers as the Kings went on an 11-0 run ending as a 15-2 run that lasted almost 7 minutes. The Lakers pulled in, but trailed 58-53 at the half.

3RD QUARTER

The Lakers made 2 shots to pull to 58-57, but the Kings wouldn't give up their lead yet when they got 7 points. It was about to get physical, and personal. Bryant tried to steal the ball from Martin with a dash, but ended up crashing into a photographer while Martin got a wide open dunk. Throughout the game, Martin, Salmons and Artest took turns guarding Bryant who only had 17 points through 3 quarters. Gasol got hacked by Brad Miller with no foul call. Even though Lamar Odom made a shot right after, Gasol got hit with a technical, which Martin sunk. Miller would get hit with a T later, which Derek Fisher hit. There were more scraps for the ball than before and it was tough to play in that game. The Kings pulled away by as much as 12 points as they led 87-81.

4TH QUARTER

Artest was getting real emotional. He was in the game with passion. The Kings stayed competitve for the beginning of the game but they changed from the style of teamwork to too much one-on-one play down the stretch. The Lakers tightened their defense so that style couldn't work. They wouldn't let an inside or outside shot be taken. When the Lakers had the ball, Kobe was their go to guy. He had 15-17 points during his run, including a 360 slam that said GAME OVER. The Kings would go on to lose 105-117.

HIGHLIGHTS
*= team high
**= game high

KINGS
Artest: 23 pts* 5 reb, 2 ast, stl, 2 blk*
Martin: 23 pts* (scoreless in 4th qtr), 3 reb
Miller: 14 pts, 12 reb (4 off.*), 4 ast*, blk
Salmons: 17 pts, 4 reb, 3 steals**, ast
Beno Udrih: 15 pts, 2 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl
Mikki Moore: 6 pts, 13 reb**, 3 ast, stl, blk

LAKERS
Bryant: 34 pts** (17 in 4th qtr) 10 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl
Gasol: 31 pts, 10 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl, 3 blk**, (first win in Sacramento)
Odom: 19 pts, 12 reb* (6 off.**), 3 ast, stl, blk
Fisher: 17 pts, 2 reb, 6 ast**, 3 stl**, blk
Luke Walton: 7 pts, 4 reb (2 off.), 4 ast, stl

Kobe was unstoppable in the 4 th quarter, and after what happened to Dallas the day before, no one shoud feel bad for the Kings, but feel good about them. Kobe didn't drop 52 points on them. They actually played very well for most of the game.

I've said this throughout the season that the Kings have played well despite their record of 27-33, 6 wins away from last year's record. Many thought they'd be 20-40 at the most right now. They've handled adversity very well. Examples:

1. A rookie coach with no previous experience at the NBA level besides playing.
2. Brand new coaching staff, everyone but the trainer.
3. The constant acquiring of and cutting new players, trying to fit with the team during the regular season.
4. Injuries to 3 star players, from 12/27-1/12 all at once, including Mike Bibby (10/25- 1/16), Ron Artest (Suspension 10/31-11/12, Daughter's Illness 11/21, Injured 12/27-1/16) and Kevin Martin (12/5-1/12).
5. Trade rumors swirling around Bibby and Artest.
6. Bibby getting traded.

Out of that, the Kings saw the breakouts of Beno Udrih, John Salmons and Francisco Garcia. It's been tough for the Kings, but it could be worse. It's a rebuilding year, but they're not like the Clippers, Sonics, T'Wolves, or Heat. If you look at them, they're cut off from the Clippers and cut off from the Blazers in the Western Conference. Rebuilding teams look only to get better for the future so they can be the teams on the top. That's what the Kings are doing right now. It doesn't mean losing games, it means getting better.