Lakers 124, Kings 113
Saturday February 01, 2003By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) The Los Angeles Lakers can't afford to hit a lull before the All-Star break, and they know it.
If they do, the three-time defending NBA champions might just miss the playoffs. They're craving consistency, and they're starting to find it.
Kobe Bryant had 38 points, five rebounds and five assists and Shaquille O'Neal added 36 points, 10 rebounds and six assists as the Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings 124-113 on Friday night.
Los Angeles has won two straight on the road giving them seven victories in 22 games away from home.
``That's a lift,'' O'Neal said of winning in Sacramento two days after a victory in Phoenix. ``My guys are playing well. We've got to keep that swagger, keep that intensity, that enthusiasm.''
It was the Lakers' first visit to Arco Arena since the three-time defending champions prevented the Kings from reaching the NBA Finals last season with a dramatic victory in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals.
``Everybody (in Los Angeles) was pretty nervous about the game,'' Bryant said. ``I was pretty excited. ... I love Arco. I love the cowbells and the funny signs.''
Peja Stojakovic scored 36 points before fouling out with 1:31 left as the Kings lost at home for the second straight game and just the fourth time all season. They hadn't lost consecutive home games since back-to-back losses to Dallas and Milwaukee in early April 2001.
``Their two stars we couldn't handle tonight,'' Kings coach Rick Adelman said. ``Inside and outside, they were terrific. We just didn't have enough answers.''
Mike Bibby scored 13 of his 21 points in the third quarter to keep the Kings in it. He made six straight field goals before leaving with a right foot injury with 21.3 seconds left in the period. That gave the Kings a scare, but Bibby returned midway through the fourth quarter.
Sacramento tied the game twice in the third quarter and made its runs in the final period, but couldn't get defensive stops when needed.
Bryant was two points shy of the 40 he scored in the win over the Suns, the Lakers' first victory against a Pacific Division team away from Staples Center all season. He missed his first three shots Friday before hitting a 3-pointer with 4:48 left in the first quarter.
The Kings played their second game without leading scorer Chris Webber, who is out for three weeks with a sprained left ankle the same injury that sidelined him for the first 20 games last season.
His replacement in the starting lineup, Hedo Turkoglu, had six points and seven rebounds.
Sacramento started the third with three quick 3-pointers, two during an 8-0 run that brought them back within a point, 63-62. Bryant then took over, scoring six straight.
``We let Kobe and Shaq score too much,'' Bibby said. ``I think we knew we could win this game. In our eyes, we are the best team in this league.''< ^Notes:@ The Lakers were upset with a report in the Sacramento Bee that implied Bryant was drunk before Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals last year rather than sick from food poisoning. ``I considered it probably lighthearted journalism,'' coach Phil Jackson said. ``I'm sure they wouldn't want a libel suit against them for saying something that ridiculous. It's just a play on the situation of going back to last year's playoffs. I don't think there's any harmful intent.'' Bryant didn't appreciate it. ``It's just ridiculous,'' he said. ``It bothers me somebody throws something out there. I approach my job in a professional manner and I expect them to do the same.'' ... The Lakers went out to dinner and a comedy show as a team Thursday night after arriving in Sacramento. ... Kings G Bobby Jackson, out the past month with a broken left hand, swished about a dozen 3s in a row from the baseline before the game. He's expected to be back sometime after the All-Star break in mid-February. He rejoined the team Friday after a week's absence because of the death of his mother.
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