[0] KINGS INSIDE LOOK: KINGS OFF THE MARK.

Byline: Steve Dilbeck Staff Writer

SACRAMENTO - The Kings have always been one of the most dangerous shooting teams in the NBA. They led the league in scoring this season.

But in what was probably the biggest game in Sacramento Kings history, they came up empty. Shots flew, and much too often, flew off the mark.

The Lakers were able to do exactly what they hoped Friday night - take command early to try to take the raucous Arco Arena crowd out of it, or at least diminish its impact.

And the Kings unwittingly helped the L.A. cause, firing up way too many blanks. Chris Webber opened the game going 2 of 9 from the field. Doug Christie missed his first seven shots. Predrag Stojakovic, who must wonder whether Rick Fox is tailing him when he goes home, got off one shot in the second quarter.

The Kings hit on only 6 of 22 shots (.273 percent) in the second quarter and probably should have felt a little lucky to trail just 46-37 at the half.

The game got off to a late start, which must have made it rough for all the locals who had to get up early to milk the cows. The Kings, hoping to be fired up, just miss fired.

When they weren't struggling with their shot, they were in trouble just handling the ball. The Kings has seven turnovers in the first quarter, and the Lakers six steals.

The Kings were doubling Shaquille O'Neal much more effectively, but just as he promised, he simply looked for the open man in the early going. The Lakers led by nine at the half and O'Neal - the man who had scored 44 and 43 points in the first two games - had taken exactly two shots.

The Kings were struggling to find someone to lead them out of their offensive funk. Webber was 5 of 14 at the half, and although he got going in the second half, it was too late for Sacramento.

The Los Angeles defense certainly played a major part in the Kings' shooting woes - it's at the best it's been all season - but they consistently missed open looks.

The Lakers briefly caught this shooting disease in the third quarter, and the Kings pulled to within 54-48. The Kings were stuck at 48 points for the next 4:04.

Kobe Bryant, who was 3 of 15 at this point, got it going, O'Neal stopped forcing shots, and the Lakers pulled away.

The Kings, always a threat to go off on some scary scoring run, could never find it. Even when they trailed big in the first two games at Staples Center, they made late charges to make it close.

Friday's was a ragged, fairly ugly game, but one the Lakers were grateful to take. The fastbreak-happy Kings never showed. The big night never happened.