Rvr2Bch
03-24-2004, 10:49 PM
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LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Lakers turned what had been billed as a Western Conference showdown into a blowout.
Kobe Bryant scored 36 points after spending most of the day in a Colorado courtroom, and Shaquille O'Neal had 17 points, 16 rebounds and six assists Wednesday night as the Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings 115-91.
The Lakers used a 25-1 first-quarter run to take command, and a 17-1 third-quarter spurt in handing the Kings their most lopsided loss of the season.
The Lakers (48-23) have won six straight games and 10 of 12 to move within 2{ games of the conference-leading Kings (51-21), who lost for the fifth time in eight games.
The Lakers also moved within a half-game of Minnesota (49-23), and can overtake the Timberwolves when the teams meet Friday night.
The Lakers had beaten their previous five opponents by a total of 20 points, and all but one of those wins came over teams who won't make the playoffs.
They were much, much better in this game, shooting 51.6 percent to Sacramento's 41 percent and outrebounding the Kings 55-33.
Gary Payton scored 20 points, Slava Medvedenko came off the bench to get 15 points and eight rebounds, and Karl Malone added 11 points and seven rebounds for the Lakers.
Bryant also had six rebounds and six assists.
Peja Stojakovic had 20 points and eight rebounds and Chris Webber added 18 points for the Kings.
Mike Bibby, who scored 31 points in a 103-101 victory over the Lakers last month, had 12 points and six assists. He shot 4-of-16.
Bryant arrived at Staples Center an hour before tipoff after attending a pretrial hearing in Eagle County court on his sexual assault charge. He will return Thursday for another appearance.
Bryant made a 12-foot left-handed bank shot leading to a three-point play during the third-quarter run that extended the Lakers' lead to 86-56.
By that time, the Lakers' big four of Bryant, O'Neal, Malone and Payton, playing together for just the 28th time this season, had reached double figures, as had Medvedenko.
Stojakovic made a 3-pointer to trigger a 14-0 run by the Kings, but that was as close as they would get. It was 94-72 entering the fourth quarter.
Bryant and Medvedenko scored six points each during the Lakers' early spurt, which gave them a 31-10 lead. The Kings missed 13 straight shots and three free throws during the run.
Stojakovic made a layup with 1:15 left in the first quarter for his team's first field goal in nearly 7{ minutes.
It was 33-14 entering the second period, and Sacramento wasn't closer than 13 points after that. The Lakers led 65-47 at halftime, outscoring the Kings 36-14 in the paint
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/506/1210shaq_1-med.jpg
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Lakers turned what had been billed as a Western Conference showdown into a blowout.
Kobe Bryant scored 36 points after spending most of the day in a Colorado courtroom, and Shaquille O'Neal had 17 points, 16 rebounds and six assists Wednesday night as the Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings 115-91.
The Lakers used a 25-1 first-quarter run to take command, and a 17-1 third-quarter spurt in handing the Kings their most lopsided loss of the season.
The Lakers (48-23) have won six straight games and 10 of 12 to move within 2{ games of the conference-leading Kings (51-21), who lost for the fifth time in eight games.
The Lakers also moved within a half-game of Minnesota (49-23), and can overtake the Timberwolves when the teams meet Friday night.
The Lakers had beaten their previous five opponents by a total of 20 points, and all but one of those wins came over teams who won't make the playoffs.
They were much, much better in this game, shooting 51.6 percent to Sacramento's 41 percent and outrebounding the Kings 55-33.
Gary Payton scored 20 points, Slava Medvedenko came off the bench to get 15 points and eight rebounds, and Karl Malone added 11 points and seven rebounds for the Lakers.
Bryant also had six rebounds and six assists.
Peja Stojakovic had 20 points and eight rebounds and Chris Webber added 18 points for the Kings.
Mike Bibby, who scored 31 points in a 103-101 victory over the Lakers last month, had 12 points and six assists. He shot 4-of-16.
Bryant arrived at Staples Center an hour before tipoff after attending a pretrial hearing in Eagle County court on his sexual assault charge. He will return Thursday for another appearance.
Bryant made a 12-foot left-handed bank shot leading to a three-point play during the third-quarter run that extended the Lakers' lead to 86-56.
By that time, the Lakers' big four of Bryant, O'Neal, Malone and Payton, playing together for just the 28th time this season, had reached double figures, as had Medvedenko.
Stojakovic made a 3-pointer to trigger a 14-0 run by the Kings, but that was as close as they would get. It was 94-72 entering the fourth quarter.
Bryant and Medvedenko scored six points each during the Lakers' early spurt, which gave them a 31-10 lead. The Kings missed 13 straight shots and three free throws during the run.
Stojakovic made a layup with 1:15 left in the first quarter for his team's first field goal in nearly 7{ minutes.
It was 33-14 entering the second period, and Sacramento wasn't closer than 13 points after that. The Lakers led 65-47 at halftime, outscoring the Kings 36-14 in the paint
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