Lakers 124, Kings 101

April 15th, 2008, 10:01 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Curtis Zupke, Staff writer

By CURTIS ZUPKE

The Orange County Register

LOS ANGELES - The Lakers completed their transformation from preseason mess to Western Conference top seed with a 124-101 victory against depleted Sacramento on Tuesday night at Staples Center.

The Lakers wrapped up the No.1 seed and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. They will play either Dallas or Denver in the first round starting Saturday or Sunday.

If Dallas defeats New Orleans on Wednesday, the Lakers would play eighth-seeded Denver.

If Denver beats Memphis, and Dallas loses, Denver wins the head-to-head tiebreaker and Dallas would be the eighth seed.

Sacramento, already without center Brad Miller, did not play Kevin Martin (knee) and Ron Artest (thumb).

Pau Gasol had 22 points on 9-for-11 shooting. Kobe Bryant had 20 points on an off shooting night (3-for-13) but got important rest as the Lakers starters sat out the fourth quarter.

Lamar Odom had 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Quincy Douby led the Kings with 31 points.

Jordan Farmar made a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer for 62-48 lead. The Lakers outscored the Kings, 39-24, in the third quarter.

Gasol had 17 points on 7-for-8 shooting in the first half.

DENVER OR DALLAS?

The Lakers went 3-1 against Dallas and 3-0 against Denver. They have not played the Nuggets since Jan.22, and Denver’s Carmelo Anthony left that game in the second period with a sprained ankle.

Jackson wouldn’t commit to a preference, but he did say that “Dallas might be a more deeper team, but Denver has more striking power.”

NOTES

Bryant became the 16th player in NBA history to reach 21,000 points and 4,000 assists. …

The Lakers reached 57 victories for the first time since they went 58-24 in 2001-02, their last championship season. …

They reached 30 victories at home for the first time since 2003-04. …

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar received a standing ovation in the beginning of the second quarter in recognition of his 61st birthday on Wednesday.

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