Bryant leads Lakers past Kings, 112-103

LOS ANGELES (AP)—Kobe Bryant scored 32 points, Pau Gasol had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers avenged a loss earlier in the week with a 112-103 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.

The Kings didn’t go quietly in the rematch, storming back from a 92-77 deficit early in the fourth quarter to close to 101-98 on Spencer Hawes’ 3-pointer with 3:02 remaining. But Derek Fisher sank a 14-footer, Bryant made a short jumper and then a driving dunk and free throw and the Lakers suddenly had stretched the lead back to 10.

One of only three defeats in Los Angeles’ 22 games this season was at the hands of the otherwise struggling Kings, a 113-101 upset at Sacramento on Tuesday.

Although they never led, the Kings played the Lakers tough again and were tied 52-52 at halftime. Los Angeles opened a 76-61 lead with 3:48 remaining in the third quarter and was up 84-72 heading into the fourth.

Trevor Ariza scored 13 for Los Angeles, and Fisher had 11. Andrew Bynum had eight points and 10 rebounds when he fouled out with 4:24 remaining and the Lakers up 98-91.

John Salmons scored 26 for Sacramento, Beno Udrih had 16 and Francisco Garcia had 13. Hawes finished with 11 points.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Trevor Ariza, center, goes up for a shot as Sacramento Kings forward Donte Greene reaches in during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 12, 2008, in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Tre…
AP - Dec 13, 0:25 EST

Salmon’s steal off Bryant and fastbreak layup with 7 seconds left in the first half drew the Kings even at 52. That was the third time and last time that the score was tied.

Bryant scored 10 in the opening quarter and Los Angeles led 33-27 after the first 12 minutes. Salmons was Sacramento’s top scorer, but with just six points.

In their meeting in Sacramento three days earlier, the Lakers went in with 14 wins in their last 15 games, and the Kings were 5-16 and had lost 11 of their last 12. But Salmons and Garcia scored 21 points apiece, Bobby Jackson added 15 and the Kings claimed their first home win in nine game.

Bryant scored 28 in that loss, but was just 9-of-25 from the floor and the Lakers were held to 40 percent shooting. He was 11-of-21 in the rematch and the Lakers shot 50 percent.

Notes

At 19-3, the Lakers equaled their start under Jackson, in 2001-02. They have a ways to go, though, to equal the Bulls’ 41-3 beginning with Michael Jordan in 1995-96 when Jackson was the Chicago coach. … The Kings hadn’t played since their win over the Lakers in Sacramento. Los Angeles beat Phoenix 115-110 the following night. … Bynum became just the second Laker to foul out of a game this year. The other is Lamar Odom.