Below is a running diary of the Lakers’ matchup against the Sacramento Kings, with comments drawn from Mike Trudell’s @LakersReporter Twitter account, to ensure you’re covered from start to finish.
First Quarter
SAC is 7 of 10 from the field and 2 of 2 from 3, opening a 19-4 lead in the first 4 minutes. LAL have 3 turnovers; each has been costly.
Kings are running the Lakers off the floor, now up 25-4 after 2 FT’s from Cousins.
Kobe missed his first 2 shots, but has converted his last 2, adding FT’s to reach 7 points. Russell added a steal and layup, LAL down 30-16.
SAC leads 38-21 after the 1st Q; LAL looked a bit better once Russell/Randle checked in, after the starters fell behind 25-4.
Second Quarter
Kobe’s getting to work in the 2nd Q, dropping a pretty dime for Russell’s layup, then converting an and-1 to reach 10 points. 48-33 SAC.
Kobe just rose well above the level you might expect for a player in his 20th NBA season to dunk an alley-oop. Pretty pass from Clarkson.
Kobe continues to look good offensively, up to 16 points on 6 of 11 FG’s, but it’s on D where LAL are struggling. Kings up 63-41.
Kobe just scored his 33,000th point in the NBA.
Kobe had 18 points to lead LAL on offense, but the entire defense struggled, allowing the Kings a 69-48 lead at the half.
Third Quarter
Kobe started the 3rd Q with B2B 3’s, then added a baseline fade on the next trip to reach 26 points. That’s NBA JAM en fuego.
Kobe wanted a foul called heading to the rim to close the quarter, but no FT’s on this one. Kings lead 102-86 after 3.
Fourth Quarter
All LAL, all of a sudden. A 9-2 start to the 4th Q and nice close the the 3rd has them within 9 at 104-95. Time out, Kings, who’d led by 27.
Lots of @Dloading (22 pts) … after his 3 cut it to 6, he converted an and-1 in the paint that cut the lead to 106-102. LAL had been down 27.
Russell has 25 points in this game, a new career high, including 17 in the 2nd half, and 9 in the 4th Q. Clarkson has 10 in the 4th.
D’Angelo Russell scored again to reach 27 points, but looked to have sprained his ankle on the way up. He’s being tended to.
Bass tipped in Clarkson’s miss to make it 113-112 Lakers with 1:46 to play. Russell pulled himself out and headed to the locker room.
The Kings responded with Rondo’s running hoop, putting SAC up 116-115 with 21.7 seconds remaining. LAL ball.
Clarkson got the ball stolen from behind by Rondo working screen/roll. JC fouled Cousins, who hits both FT’s. LAL down 118-115, 06.8 left.
LAL’s huge comeback falls just short, as Lou Williams got a 3 off, but missed, and LAL didn’t foul on the rebound with 3 seconds left.
