SAD DAY FOR KOBE, LAKERS BRYANT MISSES LOSS TO KINGS TO BE WITH AILING WIFE SACRAMENTO 115, LAKERS 106.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

All Lakers interim coach Frank Hamblen knew Friday evening came from what he read on the same news release issued to reporters at Staples Center, which was heartbreaking news to say the least.

Kobe Bryant was to miss the Lakers' game against the Sacramento Kings because his wife, Vanessa, was suffering from complications from an ectopic pregnancy, the explanation for his sudden absence from the team the past two days.

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants in a location other than the uterus, most commonly the fallopian tube. The Lakers said Bryant would be with his wife for the ``foreseeable future'' and that Vanessa Bryant had undergone numerous tests.

``He's doing the right thing, being with his wife,'' Hamblen said before the Lakers' 115-106 loss to the Kings, later adding, ``The most important thing is his family.''

Bryant called Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and trainer Gary Vitti to update them on the situation, but his teammates learned of the news from reporters when they arrived at the arena.

Ectopic pregnancies occur in slightly more than 1 percent of all pregnancies and can present major health problems if the fallopian tube ruptures. The implanted egg must be immediately removed to prevent further damage to the woman.

The superstar guard had been absent from the Lakers' practice Thursday as well as their charity casino event in Santa Monica later that night. He also missed Friday's shootaround for what the team then was calling ``family medical reasons.''

The Lakers have three games left - closing out their home schedule Sunday against Dallas - and Bryant's availability is unknown. The team only would describe Vanessa Bryant's condition as ``serious.'' Bryant and his wife have a 2-year-old daughter.

Everything else was a footnote on a night when the health of Bryant's wife was at the forefront. The Lakers lost for the 16th time in 18 games and fell to 7-39 when an opponent scores 100 points or more.

They are now just 8-21 since the All-Star break, with a season that will expire Wednesday before anything else can go wrong.

The Lakers made a fourth-quarter run, but the Kings hit all the big shots they needed down the stretch. Corliss Williamson forced his way through Brian Grant and Jumaine Jones before muscling in a shot as part of a three-point play with 2:49 left.

Mike Bibby then curled around a screen and buried a jumper with 1:34 left that made it 109-102. And Cuttino Mobley put the game out of reach with a jumper with 55.5 seconds remaining.

With Bryant out and Lamar Odom on the injured list, the Lakers (34-45) started a lineup of Chucky Atkins, Caron Butler, Luke Walton, Jones and Chris Mihm, activated from the injured list earlier in the day.

Hamblen used the game to audition every player on his bench in the first half. He gave rookie Sasha Vujacic time at point guard and surrounded him with a lineup of four players from last season's Lakers team.

Butler finished with a season-high 34 points, picking up the slack for Bryant. Walton ended up one assist shy of his first triple-double, totaling 10 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists.

Ross Siler, [phone]

ross.siler(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo:

(color) Chucky Atkins can't watch as the Lakers lost their third in a row and 45th this season.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) GAME RECAP

(2) OTHER GAMES: NUGGETS RUN WIN STREAK TO 10