Lakers Within Half a Game of Cleveland

It may have been a slow start, but the Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings 122-104 last night at Arco Arena and are now within a half a game of the Cleveland Cavaliers for the NBA’s best record. While fans on the Kings’ home turf are usually anti-Lakers, they were friendly, with Kobe Bryent telling the L.A. Times, “It’s changed a lot. There’s nothing but Laker fans now. It’s basically a home game for us.” Bryant has 22 points, five rebounds and four assists without playing in the fourth quarter and Pau Gasol had 26 points and 12 rebounds.

The Lakers’ reserves were effective as well, with Sasha Vujacic scoring 12 points, Luke Walton scoring 11 with nine assists and Shannon Brown scoring nine points, outscoring the Kings’ backups, 42-22. Gasol commented: “It felt good to see our bench playing well and producing, contributing. We look forward to that being consistent.” The Kings (16-61) beat the Lakers here in December, 113-110, but they have since traded veterans Brad Miller and John Slamons and played without leading scorer Kevin Martin on Tuesday.

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