Los Angeles Lakers get first win of pre-season against Sacramento Kings
After opening up their pre-season with two exhibition losses in Europe, the Los Angeles Lakers won their first game of the year on U.S. soil.
Ron Artest and Pau Gasol scored 18 points apiece and Shannon Brown added 17 off the bench to lead the Lakers to a 98-95 victory over the Sacramento Kings (2-3) last night in Las Vegas.
Kobe Bryant, playing limited minutes as he recovers from off-season knee surgery, finished the game with seven points, four rebounds, and two assists in only 18 minutes of playing time.
Having played the first nine minutes of the first and third quarters, Bryant only managed to make two of his 10 shots.
"Kobe looks better to us," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "He didn't shoot the ball too well, but he ran like he was more fluid. It looks more like he’s starting to have a little bounce
in his step. I was pleased."
Even though the Lakers led by 15 points going into the final frame, the Kings still had a shot at over-time in the dying seconds. They were unable to get a good shot off.
Carl Landry led the Kings with 23 points and eight rebounds while Tyreke Evans, last year’s Rookie of the Year, chipped in with 13 points and eight assists. After receiving news this week
that centre Samuel Dalembert will miss at least six weeks with a groin injury, the Kings got another scare when Evans got a little banged up.
"I twisted my right (ankle) in the first half and the left one in the second half," Evans said. "The left one hurts me more. It seems to happen to me all the time."
DeMarcus Cousins, the fifth pick in June’s NBA draft, started in place of the injured Dalembert and finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
"Coach (Paul Westphal) said we have to be prepared," Cousins said. "We're playing the world champs. They're a pretty good team. They were more active than us."
After averaging a disappointing 6.5 points in his first two games, Artest finally found his shooting stroke, making four of his five three-point attempts.
"He was hot," Jackson said. "So I left him in the ballgame. He is going to find his way out there, but he is still searching a little bit. But he did much better."
In addition to his 18 points, Gasol also grabbed 12 rebounds.
"Right now, I'm looking at Pau to play a little bit better than he is," Jackson said. "He is still on vacation. But he is coming on. His stats were better than I thought."
After clinging to a one-point lead at half-time, the Lakers outscored the Kings 28-12 in the third quarter. The Kings made a valiant run in the fourth, outscoring the Lakers 36-24, but
came up just a bit short.
During their European tour, the Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday 4 October in London, and to FC Barcelona in Spain three days later.
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