Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Lakers, second half analysis
First half
After a tenacious start and building up a rhythm, the Kings took a four-point lead over the Lakers at the end of first half, 59-55.
Second half starts
Third quarter
Sacramento Kings fuelled up at the very beginning of the third quarter. They made three consecutive shots while the Lakers missed two in a row.
Samuel Dalembert grabbed a hook shot assisted by Semih Udrih, and Omri Casspi followed with two straight shots. Derek Fisher missed three shots in a stretch of two minutes, two of which were 3-pointers.
The Kings had a strong offence after halftime and the Lakers could not cross the lead that the opposition had marked. Los Angeles kept faltering and could not grab a hold on the game for their team.
Two consecutive shots clinched by Dalembert edged Sacramento with a 20-point lead over the Lakers, 81-61. At that moment, Blake shot a three-pointer, followed by a jump shot by Kobe Bryant. Shannon Brown had another three-pointer from the rim to reduce the
deficit to 69-83.
Pooh Jeter’s jumper was the last coming from the Kings, and Sacramento sealed an 85-71 lead over Los Angeles.
Fourth quarter
The Lakers started the final quarter with determination. Bryant missed a jumper at the very beginning but the Lakers got up to fight and score. Brown clinched a three-pointer that was followed by two free throws sealed by Bryant and the Lakers closed the
gap with the leading team, 76-85.
Odom committed a shooting foul that earned another point for Sacramento, taking them 86-76, still leading the Lakers.
Bryant tried pulling out shots when he got the chance but the guard’s resolve could not do much for the Lakers.
After their edgy start, the young Sacramento team had big shots on their mind and they kept defending, not letting the Lakers pass into their territory.
Bryant clinched a solid dunk to cover the deficit, followed by a layup and a free throw by Gasol that made it 90-93, on the 2:43 mark.
However, the game took a sharp turn at that point and did not stop until the Kings took a 100-95 victory over the opponent team.
Facts
The Lakers big-three, Bynum, Gasol and Lamar Odom, remain unable to beat the Sacramento Kings tonight and the Lakers got reduced to a very disappointing loss at the hands of the detrimental Kings.
Bryant scored a whopping 38 points, seven assists and four rebounds for the losing team.
The Kings had a good start and the young team maintained a powerful surge throughout the game.
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