Were making a huge run and could be VERY hot come playoff time
Kings move past Lakers into seventh in Western Conference
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Ron Artest scored 28 points while playing stellar defense on Kobe Bryant, and the revitalized Sacramento Kings rolled through the fourth quarter of their 13th straight home victory, 114-98 over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.
Mike Bibby had 29 points and seven assists for the Kings (33-31), who have won 14 of 18 to move past the Lakers (33-32) into seventh place in the Western Conference. With Artest dictating play on both ends of the court, Sacramento made a decisive 14-3 run in the fourth quarter of its second home win this season over its biggest rival.
In his final home game before his much-anticipated return to Indiana on Friday, Artest hit three of his four 3-pointers and scored 19 points in the first half. He tag-teamed with Bonzi Wells to play tireless defense against Bryant, who still got 30 points -- but had to work exceptionally hard for them.
Sacramento hasn't lost at Arco Arena since Jan. 8, and not even Bryant could rally the disorganized Lakers in the fourth quarter. Bibby hit three of his five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, drawing standing ovations from a raucous sellout crowd.
Lamar Odom scored 24 points for Los Angeles, but the Kings' veteran seven-man rotation handled every surge with a poise belying their short time together.
Brad Miller had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Kenny Thomas added 14 points.
After a 2004-05 season of relative quiet while both clubs struggled, this West Coast rivalry already has become intriguing again -- even though Bryant, Bibby and both coaches are the only major players remaining from the epic 2002 Western Conference finals, won in seven games by the Lakers on the way to the second of three straight NBA titles.
Bryant, who scored 51 points in the Kings' overtime win over the Lakers on Jan. 19, rebounded aggressively from a dismal 8-of-29 performance in a loss to Seattle on Sunday. He was just 31-of-91 in his last three games before going 12-for-28 against the Kings.
Before the longtime rivals' previous meeting at Staples Center on Feb. 23, Artest promised to shut down Bryant, who responded with 36 points in an easy Lakers win. But Artest wasn't in game shape yet, and his tandem with Wells gave constant headaches to Bryant in the rematch.
Artest scored 13 points in less than 4 minutes to start the second quarter, while Bryant missed six of his first seven shots. Bryant finished the first half with just nine points on 4-of-12 shooting, but hit a difficult layin as time expired at halftime, pulling Los Angeles within 54-50.
Kings move past Lakers into seventh in Western Conference
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Ron Artest scored 28 points while playing stellar defense on Kobe Bryant, and the revitalized Sacramento Kings rolled through the fourth quarter of their 13th straight home victory, 114-98 over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.
Mike Bibby had 29 points and seven assists for the Kings (33-31), who have won 14 of 18 to move past the Lakers (33-32) into seventh place in the Western Conference. With Artest dictating play on both ends of the court, Sacramento made a decisive 14-3 run in the fourth quarter of its second home win this season over its biggest rival.
In his final home game before his much-anticipated return to Indiana on Friday, Artest hit three of his four 3-pointers and scored 19 points in the first half. He tag-teamed with Bonzi Wells to play tireless defense against Bryant, who still got 30 points -- but had to work exceptionally hard for them.
Sacramento hasn't lost at Arco Arena since Jan. 8, and not even Bryant could rally the disorganized Lakers in the fourth quarter. Bibby hit three of his five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, drawing standing ovations from a raucous sellout crowd.
Lamar Odom scored 24 points for Los Angeles, but the Kings' veteran seven-man rotation handled every surge with a poise belying their short time together.
Brad Miller had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Kenny Thomas added 14 points.
After a 2004-05 season of relative quiet while both clubs struggled, this West Coast rivalry already has become intriguing again -- even though Bryant, Bibby and both coaches are the only major players remaining from the epic 2002 Western Conference finals, won in seven games by the Lakers on the way to the second of three straight NBA titles.
Bryant, who scored 51 points in the Kings' overtime win over the Lakers on Jan. 19, rebounded aggressively from a dismal 8-of-29 performance in a loss to Seattle on Sunday. He was just 31-of-91 in his last three games before going 12-for-28 against the Kings.
Before the longtime rivals' previous meeting at Staples Center on Feb. 23, Artest promised to shut down Bryant, who responded with 36 points in an easy Lakers win. But Artest wasn't in game shape yet, and his tandem with Wells gave constant headaches to Bryant in the rematch.
Artest scored 13 points in less than 4 minutes to start the second quarter, while Bryant missed six of his first seven shots. Bryant finished the first half with just nine points on 4-of-12 shooting, but hit a difficult layin as time expired at halftime, pulling Los Angeles within 54-50.
