Big West: Lakers, Kings to battle in LA

03.2.2007

(Basketball News) - Pacific Division rivals battle tonight, as the streaking Los Angeles Lakers welcome the Sacramento Kings to the Staples Center.

This is the second of four meetings between the clubs this season. On January 4th, superstar Kobe Bryant scored nine of his game-high 42 points in overtime to lift the Lakers over Sacramento, 132-128, at ARCO Arena.

The Lakers will host the Kings on April 1st, while Sacramento is scheduled to welcome the Lakers on April 18th to ARCO Arena.

Sacramento has lost two straight after winning its last two at the Lakers. The Lakers have won two in a row in the series.

Los Angeles has won three straight games. Bryant scored 21 of his 35 points at the free throw line, lifting the Lakers over the Utah Jazz, 102-94, on Monday at EnergySolutions Arena.

Smush Parker ended with 24 points and Lamar Odom had 19 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists in the win over Utah for the Lakers, who have won three in a row after a six-game losing streak.

On the injury front for the Lakers, center Andrew Bynum (flu) is probable for tonight’s contest. Bynum is averaging 8.4 points and 6.5 rebounds in 58 games this season.

The Lakers are 20-9 as the host this season. After tonight’s contest, they will embark on a four-game road trip at Phoenix, Minnesota, Milwaukee and Philadelphia.

Sacramento attempts to win back-to-back games, as it plays the first of a short two-game road trip. On Wednesday, Kevin Martin scored 36 points to lead the Kings over the Charlotte Bobcats, 135-120, at ARCO Arena.

Mike Bibby ended with 30 points and was 7-of-10 from beyond-the-arc in the win over Charlotte for the Kings, who have won two of their last three games overall. John Salmons contributed 15 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Brad Miller finished with 14 points and six rebounds.

Forward Ron Artest (sore knee) is questionable for Sacramento. Artest, who did not play against the Bobcats, is averaging 18.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 49 games this season.

The Kings are 8-20 on the road this season. They will visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday at the Rose Garden.

LAL SAC

1 Comments: Big West: Lakers, Kings to battle in LA

Posted by
Sierra
on 03.3.2007

I watch every game the Kings play especially against the Lakers. I feel that on February 28th, Kevin Martin (my favorite King on the roster this year) did more than just score 36 points (4 points shy of his career-high). I also think that Kevin (K-Mart/ Zanesville Zapper) Martin should be by far the NBA’s Most Improved Player because he scores effortlessly, and being a third year guard has jumped from 26.6 minutes per game to 35.7, from 48.0 percent from the field to 49.4, from 36.9 from 3-point range to 41.0, from 3.6 rebounbds per game to 4.2, from 1.3 assist per game to 2.1, from .8 steals per game to 1.2, and best of all 10.8 points per game to 21.1 points per game and counting. .

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