LAKERS CAN'T FINISH HEAD TO OT AFTER 74-POINT FIRST HALF.Byline: ROSS SILER Staff Writer SACRAMENTO - There's always something about the rivalry between the Lakers and Sacramento Kings, even if Kobe Bryant Kobe Bean Bryant (born July 23 1978) is an American All-Star shooting guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. , Phil Jackson
Philip Douglas "Phil" Jackson (born September 17, 1945 in Deer Lodge, Montana) is the current coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, an American professional basketball team. and Mike Bibby Michael (Mike) Bibby (born May 13, 1978 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey) is an American professional basketball point guard for the NBA's Sacramento Kings, and the son of former NBA and UCLA player and former USC basketball coach and current Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Henry are the three principals remaining from the 2002 Western Conference final. The Lakers were back at Arco Arena Current arenas in the National Basketball Association Western Conference Eastern Conference on Thursday night and ready to embark on a month of games that undoubtedly will be an adventure. Nothing else can be expected from a team playing without injured starters Lamar Odom Lamar Joseph Odom (born November 6 1979, in South Jamaica, Queens, New York) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward (also plays both forward spots and is a "point-forward") for the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Lakers. and Kwame Brown. Sure enough, the Lakers scored a season-high 74 points in the first half and built a 21-point lead early in the third quarter and somehow went into the fourth quarter leading just 90-83. The Kings rallied to force overtime with the score tied at 117-117 when this edition of the Daily News went to press. The Lakers totaled just 16 points in the third quarter as Bryant scored only three points on 1-of-4 shooting. This after a first quarter in which Bryant did not score and took one shot, yet watched his team take a 15-point lead. Sacramento closed to 90-87 off a pair of baskets early in the fourth, but Sasha Vujacic answered with a long jumper to keep the Lakers in front. Then Bryant came off the bench to finish the game with a flourish. Bryant checked back with 8:58 left, and the Lakers leading 94-88, and promptly buried a 3-pointer over Ron Artest Ronald (Ron) William Artest Jr. (born November 13 1979) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays with the Sacramento Kings of the NBA. Artest gained reputation as one of the premier defenders in the game today, winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year . He threw down a ferocious dunk and connected on another jumper as the Lakers went ahead 106-94 with 6 minutes remaining. Jackson talked before the game about hoping to play .500 basketball without the two injured starters, and about wanting to see steady play out of the likes of Smush Parker William Henry "Smush" Parker (born June 1 1981, in New York, New York) is an American professional basketball player, currently with the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association.[1] Parker played shooting guard in college, but moved to point guard in the NBA. and Luke Walton Luke Theodore Walton (born March 28 1980 in San Diego, California) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His position is small forward. . "It's when Kobe has to do all the work and he has to try and carry us by himself," Jackson said, "or the other players don't step into that vacuum, then we have to struggle." This time, Bryant took just one shot in the first quarter and did not score, but the Lakers nevertheless led 33-18 after the opening 12 minutes. Brian Cook For other persons named Brian Cook, see Brian Cook (disambiguation). Brian Joshua Cook (born December 4, 1980 in Lincoln, Illinois) is a power forward for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. hit his first six shots and scored 13 points in the quarter while Andrew Bynum Andrew Bynum (born October 27 1987, in Plainsboro, New Jersey) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. Bynum is listed as 7'0" and 285 lbs and plays center. did more than just stay out of foul trouble. The 19-year-old center had seven points and four rebounds and factored into a couple of big plays. Bynum flipped in a shot over Shareef Abdur-Rahim Julius Shareef Abdur-Rahim (born December 11, 1976 in Marietta, Georgia) is an American professional basketball player. Presently, he plays for the Sacramento Kings, a member of the National Basketball Association (NBA). while being fouled and had another chance for a three-point play when he put back a Walton miss. It was Bynum's first start since Nov. 28 and he had something to prove.The game slowed to a crawl in the second quarter as both teams were called for a combined 26 fouls. The teams shot an Arco Arena-record 47 free throws in the quarter, only three shy of the NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= mark. Yet the Lakers still took a 74-58 lead into the second half, following their highest scoring half of the season. Bryant started attacking after Artest went to the bench with his third foul with 8:31 left in the quarter. He finished the half with 18 points and six assists, the last coming as he moved the ball to Vujacic for a 3-pointer just before halftime. Bryant didn't score his first basket until the 7:59 mark of the second quarter. On the next possession, Bryant found Parker for a 3-pointer. Parker went to the bench two minutes into the game after picking up two quick fouls. The Lakers built a 21-point lead early in the third but let Sacramento close to 85-74 before Jackson took a time-out with 5:05 left in the quarter. Bryant picked up a third foul, Walton was called for an offensive foul and Bynum was called for three seconds. The Kings also found a big lineup they liked with Abdur-Rahim, Kenny Thomas and Corliss Williamson all playing together. Sacramento had won four of five games coming into Thursday and was hoping to get back to .500 for the season. The Kings were playing without center Brad Miller, who was out with flu-like symptoms. ross.siler@dailynews.com (818) 713-3610 CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1 -- color) The Lakers' Kobe Bryant, left, is fouled by Sacramento's Corliss Williamson on Thursday. (2) Kings guard Kevin Martin, left, tried to drive past the Lakers' Kobe Bryant in Thursday's game. Steve Yeater/Associated Press Box: LAKERS vs. DENVER - Ross Siler |
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