NBA Game Summary - LA Lakers at Sacramento

04.10.2005

Sacramento, CA (Basketball News) - Kenny Thomas poured in a career-high 32 points and pulled down 14 rebounds to lead the Sacramento Kings past the Los Angeles Lakers, 124-105, at ARCO Arena.

Mike Bibby contributed 24 points and eight assists for Sacramento, which has won three in a row and seven of its last 10 contests. The Kings moved 1 1/2 games ahead of idle Houston for the fifth spot in the Western Conference playoff race.

Cuttino Mobley collected 13 points and six assists and Peja Stojakovic finished with 12 points in the win.

Kobe Bryant paced Los Angeles with 18 points to go along with six assists. Caron Butler netted 17 points and Chucky Atkins chipped in 15 points and nine assists for the Lakers, who have dropped 14 of their last 16 games.

Sacramento began the second quarter with a 9-2 run, keyed by Mobley’s three- pointer, to grab the lead for good at 37-30. After Los Angeles closed within 39-36, the Kings went on a 17-6 burst, highlighted by nine points from Bibby, to build a 56-42 cushion.

The Lakers then received baskets from Brian Grant and Atkins and trailed by 10 heading to the intermission. Bibby ended the first half with 13 points, while Butler led Los Angeles in the opening 24 minutes with 11.

Sacramento then put the game away in the third quarter, erupting for 43 points on 16-of-23 shooting from the field. The Kings opened the period with a 17-9 spurt to take a commanding 73-55 lead. Mobley, Bibby and Stojakovic all drilled three-pointers during the surge.

The Kings continued to pour it on, stretching the margin to 24 at 93-69 on Brian Skinner’s dunk with 2:28 remaining in the stanza. Sacramento held a 99-81 advantage after 36 minutes. Thomas scored 14 points and Bibby added 11 in the decisive third quarter.

The Lakers did not threaten in the fourth period, falling behind by 24 points several times during the quarter.

The Kings took control early, scoring 12 of the first 15 points of the game. Los Angeles then countered with a 12-0 burst, capped by Bryant’s layup, to move in front 15-12. The rest of the opening quarter stayed tight and ended with the teams tied at 28-28.

Sacramento has won five of the last seven meetings between the two teams...The Kings played without forward Corliss Williamson, who was suspended by the league for one game for punching Portland’s Joel Przybilla in the head during Friday’s victory over the Trail Blazers...Darius Songaila had 10 points and 11 boards for Sacramento...Stanislav Medvedenko scored 13 points and Grant finished with 11 for the Lakers.

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