Lakers 114, Kings 92
April 6th, 2008, 8:31 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Curtis Zupke, Staff writer
The latest phase of the Lakers resurgence took shape with a breakout game from Vladimir Radmanovic and a typical finish from Kobe Bryant.Radmanovic matched a season high with 21 points and equaled a career-high 14 rebounds while Bryant scored 21 of his 29 points in the second half as the Lakers defeated Sacramento, 114-92, on Sunday night at Arco Arena.
After reaching a low point with back-to-back losses to Charlotte and Memphis, the Lakers have won four in a row. They remain 1 1/2 games behind New Orleans for first in the Western Conference and are tied with San Antonio for second.
Bryant, defended by usual antagonist Ron Artest, had eight points in the first half but exploded for 16 in the third quarter when the Lakers began with a 14-4 run.
His 3-pointer with 2:40 remaining made it 110-86. Bryant shot 9 of 15 from the field.
Radmanovic scored all his 21 points in the first three quarters. He sank a 3-pointer at the end of the first quarter and pushed the lead to 79-62 at the end of the third quarter to give the Lakers a 87-69 lead.
Pau Gasol, a benefactor of several Bryant dishes, had 20 points on 7-for-11 shooting and nine rebounds.
WALTON OUT - Luke Walton was scratched with a strained right hamstring. He is day to day. Walton suffered the injury last Wednesday against Portland and aggravated it Friday against Dallas. Asked if he would likely return on Tuesday, Walton said, “Yeah.”
TIME ON HIS HANDS - Barry Bonds, sitting courtside, received loud cheers from the Northern California crowd when he was introduced in the first quarter.
NEXT - Lakers at Portland, Tuesday, 7 p.m., FSN, KLAC/570
