Lakers move four games above .500 with win over Kings

Lakers forward Metta World Peace plays tight defense on Kings point guard Tyreke Evans in the first half Sunday night at Staples Center. (Reed Saxon / Associated Press / March 17, 2013)

By Eric Pincus

March 17, 2013, 9:00 p.m.

Lakers 113, Kings 102 (final)

The Lakers defended their home court on Sunday night despite playing without Kobe Bryant, defeating the Sacramento Kings, 113-102.

In one of his best games of the season, reserve forward Antawn Jamison scored a game-high 27 points and had nine rebounds for the Lakers, who used a seven-man rotation.

Metta World Peace added 22 points for the Lakers, who shot 56.9% from the field. Both Dwight Howard and Steve Nash notched a double-double; Howard finishing with 12 points and 17 rebounds and Nash contributing 19 points and 12 assists.

The Kings, playing without center DeMarcus Cousins, went on a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter to close the deficit to two points, 90-88. The Lakers immediately responded with 12 unanswered points to re-establish a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Isaiah Thomas was a problem for the Lakers, scoring 26 points for the Kings, who shot 43.8% from the field. Sacramento center Patrick Patterson made nine of 12 shots for 22 points.

The backcourt pairing of Steve Blake (16 points and eight assists) with Nash was particularly strong for the Lakers, who improve to 36-32 on the season, the first time they've been four games over .500.

With the Houston Rockets (36-31) falling at home to the Golden State Warriors (38-30), the Lakers are now only half a game behind the seventh-place Rockets.

The Kings fall to 23-44.

Lakers 86, Kings 76 (end of third quarter)

The Lakers re-established their lead over the Kings, scoring 30 points in the third quarter on 55.9% shooting for the game.

Five Lakers are in double figures, led by Antawn Jamison with 19.

Sacramento point guard Isaiah Thomas was a force for the Kings, scoring 24 points on nine-of-17 shooting. Patrick Patterson is eight of 11 rom the field and has 20 points.

Despite the Kings' hot duo, the Lakers has held Sacramento to 43.7% shooting from the field.

Lakers point guards Steve Nash and Steve Blake combined for 23 points on eight-of-16 shooting with 19 assists.

Lakers 56, Kings 56 (halftime)

The Lakers struggled to get stops against the Kings, giving up a 10-point lead to finish the first half with the score tied.

Sacramento shot seven of 15 (46.7%) from three-point range, 47.9% from the field and committed only two turnovers in the half.

The Lakers shot 52.4% from the field but only 29.4% (five of 17) from long range.

Lakers center Dwight Howard leads the Lakers with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Comments (31)

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darrenbruin at 5:21 PM March 18, 2013

There are very good reasons why Laker fans should worry about the prospect of Pau Gasol's return and it has nothing to do with the coach. Last time he was playing the Lakers were awful and struggling. Since Pau sat down due to injury the team has been doing much, much better. When he comes back Gasol will need to prove to everyone that he is not washed-up and can still play basketball. And please stop blaming Mike D for not knowing how to use Gasol: he put him on the second unit and the Lakers started to thrive. And last I look the coach does not handle the ball or shoot it, the players do. Pau Gasol has been in the league long enough to know how to MOLD his game around Howard and contribute. Just look at Kobe, he could care less if the coach was Phil Jackson, Mike Brown or Mike D. He ALWAYS plays his game regardless of a particular coach's system or philosophy. Gasol should take a page out of Kobe's and man up. Enough with the excuses about Mike D's coaching already.

michael428 at 4:20 PM March 18, 2013

Sad but true!

"We are the only team that worries when a player like Gasol returns as Dumbass does not know how to use him."-Doublesman

tasia murray at 9:44 AM March 18, 2013

Let me make it clear! Kobe is not a ball hog and certainly does not hold back the Lakers. Maybe the rest of the team are just intimidated by his talent. There are many times when everybody passes the ball, are even try to score and nothing happens until Kobe decides to send the ball to the basket without passing. The way I see it.... Kobe is better off sending the ball to the basket than waste time passing it on. The reason why this game with the Kings was a team effort, it is because the team realize that Kobe is not around and they are on their own, therefore they have to try harder.

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