The Lakers won their first game under Mike D’Antoni last night. But they didn’t have much time to rest as they flew up north to Sacramento, California to play the Kings.
Did the Kings catch the Lakers sleeping at… Sleep Train Arena? Or did the Lakers get their fourth straight overall win?
Let’s find out, shall we?
1ST QUARTER
The Lakers got off to a real quick start. The combination of the Lakers’ excellent shooting and the Kings’ sluggishness got L.A. off to a fast 8-3 lead. Kobe showed off another shot from his growing repertoire.
I see you Kobe with the Dirk shot. Nice.
— Evan Barnes (@evan_b) November 22, 2012
However, Kobe Bryant picked up a quick second foul. Kobe opted to stay in. However, the Kings started to outpace the Lakers. Taking advantage of the fact that the Lakers played last night, Sacramento outhustled them and went on an 8-2 run. But DeMarcus Cousins himself got his second foul in the first.
It was a really sloppy game between the two. The Kings couldn’t go inside so they resorted to chucking. The Lakers looked like they didn’t want to play out there because of the game last night. Still, the Lakers’ talent, despite some fatigue, overcame the young Kings in the first quarter. L.A. ended up leading the Kings at the end of 1, 21-15.
2ND QUARTER
Once again, the second unit performed… well… as feared. The Kings went on a quick 11-0 run to start the second quarter.
The Lakers starters and the bench are practically opposites.
— MARSZ (@longliveandross) November 22, 2012
Kobe came back into the game and immediately stopped the run with a 3. And then he made another 3 in the next possession. Darius Morris’ lay-up made it an 8-0 run for L.A. Kobe didn’t stop there…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUZD3yaZIWI
They picked up the pace in the latter half of the second quarter. But it continued to be sloppy for both teams. Lakers turned the ball over 13 times by the half (not that the Kings were doing much better; they had 10). A nearly nonexistent Dwight Howard half (two points) didn’t help matters. The Kings led by the half, 42-41.
We needed to see more of this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTxsDUAtdmg
3RD QUARTER
Sacramento jumped on the Lakers in the first couple of possessions. After ending the half with four straight, the Kings went on an 8-0 overall run.
I hate these type of games. Especially when we all know the Kings will lose the next 5 by 10 or more.
— Craig Kwasniewski (@CTKwasniewski) November 22, 2012
The Kings poured it on against the Lakers as they looked more and more fatigued as the quarter went on. They were clanking all over the place. The Kings led by 11 at one point.
But Kobe came to the rescue again. He made three quick three-pointers, basically keeping the Lakers in the game by himself. All in all, Kobe scored 14 straight points for the Lakers. It felt like Kobe would have to score 40+ for the Lakers to win.
After a great defensive play by Darius Morris and two foul shots, the Lakers were able to cut into the Kings deficit. Kings led after 3, 73-69.
4TH QUARTER
Kobe was on the bench to start the game but Jodie Meeks came alive in the fourth. He scored the first seven points of the period.
I NEVER LOST FAITH IN YOU JODIE
— J. Doug Hatings (@basquiatball) November 22, 2012
(I had totally lost faith in him)
— J. Doug Hatings (@basquiatball) November 22, 2012
But other than Meeks, there was no offense for the Lakers. The Kings went on a run and D’Antoni was forced to bring back the starters, except for Meeks. Meeks responded and… he actually ended up scoring the Lakers’ first 12 points in the fourth.
The Lakers tried to keep it close with Kobe continuing to play well but the Kings continued to dominate in the paint and took advantage of the porous perimeter defense. A huge Marcus Thornton three put the Kings up seven with 2:46 left.
Dwight was frustrated with his missed lay-up, which led to him hitting Jason Thompson with his arm. The flagrant foul by Dwight and made freethrow by Thompson put the Lakers down. DeMarcus Cousins’ lay-up added to the lead. The Kings went to the Hack-A-Dwight and that was all she wrote.
The Lakers lost to the Kings on the tail end of their back to back, 113-97.
STAT LEADERS
POINTS: Kobe Bryant, 38
REBOUNDS: Dwight Howard, 9
ASSISTS: Pau Gasol, 4
BLOCKS: Pau Gasol, 2
STEALS: Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant, 2
