<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Sacramento (27-35) at Los Angeles (44-18) By MIKE LIPKA, STATS Writer Mar 8, 5:50 pm EST Kobe Bryant’s colorful history with the Sacramento Kings reached new territory this week when he heard chants of “MVP! MVP!” during a Los Angeles Lakers’ victory—in Sacramento. The Lakers will look for their fourth straight win overall and seventh in a row at home on Sunday when they face the struggling Kings. Bryant’s career against Los Angeles’ Pacific Division rivals has included 26 30-point games, a 3-0 record in playoff series and a bizarre incident involving food poisoning from a hotel cheeseburger. But he had never before earned such praise in Sacramento as when he scored 17 points in the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ 117-105 win there on Monday. He had 34 points and 10 rebounds in that game, and in his last nine contests against the Kings, he’s averaged 33.8 points and posted five double-doubles. ADVERTISEMENT “He really stepped it up, really took it to the hole, really took it personally,” Lakers center Pau Gasol said Monday. “We know what he’s capable of doing. I know he can take over games. He’s so gifted athletically and skill-wise. He’s got a tremendous passion inside him. The way he attacked tonight, it was the kind of effort we need every night.” Bryant didn’t need to do much on Friday, when he had just 16 points in 31 minutes of the Lakers’ 119-82 blowout of the Los Angeles Clippers. The Lakers (44-18) won for the 13th time in 14 games to take a half-game lead over San Antonio atop the Western Conference. “It just means that we are heading towards the right direction and we are playing well, we are playing hard and we are getting wins,” Gasol said. “That’s what it means. We are focusing on ourselves and we are going from there.” Seven players scored in double figures against the Clippers as the Lakers outscored them 70-41 in the second half. “They’re a good team. They have the best player in the world (Bryant) on their team,” Clippers center Chris Kaman said. “They play really well together, they pass the ball, everybody plays with each other and they don’t care who scores.” No matter how much Kevin Martin scores, the Kings (27-35) can’t seem to win. Martin had a career-high 48 points on Friday, but Sacramento still became just the third team to lose at home to Minnesota this season, falling 111-103. The Kings have lost three in a row and seven of eight. Martin had 23 points against the Lakers on Monday, but just one in the fourth quarter. He had 19 in the final period against the Timberwolves, but it wasn’t enough to spark a comeback. “We’ve got to go back to playing hard, whoever is playing on the court for us,” Martin said. “We’ve got to find some chemistry and go with it. It was definitely a night I would like to trade for a team win.” Martin wasn’t the only one to question the Kings’ effort as they fade from playoff contention. Coach Reggie Theus didn’t name names, but called out a “couple of guys here who aren’t playing hard anymore,” calling the development “very disappointing.” Ron Artest hasn’t played at all in Sacramento’s last two games because of a sore right foot. The injury comes the same week Artest was fined by the Kings after making comments deemed “detrimental” to the team. The Kings have lost five straight road games, including 116-109 in double overtime to the Clippers at Staples Center on Wednesday.</div> http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=20...913&prov=ap
Kobe starts early. Pau gets a nice pass to a moving Vlad for another two. Fish continues his little streak.
Nice jumper by Gasol. Kobe gets a savvy steal then dunk. Good job on that charge lamar. Kobe hits both free throws. The Kings are being quite reckless. Vlad really has to be careful with Martin, the guy can drive pretty nicely...
Wow, a rare turnover by Kobe with no pressure on him. Must have hit the bad finger awkwardly, although I can't reiterate enough how amazing it is that he can play at this level with that. Pau's touch is missing a bit up to now. Amazing runner by Kobe for the And 1. He hits it, he's got 9 with 5 minutes left in the first. Another dribble penetration then And 1 over Mikki.
Farmar misses the lay-up with Moore challenging him. Jordan loses control of the ball then commits a foul. Lakers down by 4. Damn another turnover because of Puke and they get 2 more. We're starting damn slow again. Kings make a 10-0 run.
Luke Walton just made one of the stupidiest passes I have ever seen. I can't believe how dumb he is sometimes
Gasol stops the run, then Kobe comes right back for a nice crossover then shot off the backboard. Farmas is acting like an idiot, but then later Pau saves his ass with a nice pass as Farmar was cutting. Game is tied 25-25. Farmar gets benched for the Machine as punishment. Salmons is allowed to dribble up the court for a basket, pitiful. Timeout LA. Kobe scored on a beautiful spin move. Puke hits the runner! Wtf, amazing. Artest hits a last second jumper before the quarter expires but we are starting to get back in rhythm at least. Kobe had a monster quarter.
Sasha has a million years to shoot and gets the three! Ronny with a slight hogging mentality did not see Kobe nor get him the ball in time. He bricks. Kobe's going to the line for three!!! He gets them all. 18 for Kobe.
8 second violation, lol wtf? Nice job. Lamar gets the alley oop pass! Artest gets a nice steal from Kobe then dribbles up the court. Good defense on his part but not ours. Kobe finds an open Farmar for three! MVP bitches.
Kobe and Lamar finally get some rest. Pau wins the tip bet is putting himself in position for some tough shots. Garcia comes back for three, then another dumbass pass by Jordan results in an Udrih jumper. Radman the dork falls down, ugh a jump ball. Damn, guard Garcia already. Thank God Fisher answers back. Kobe needs to come back... Gasol hits a quick dunk through the baseline, but Udrih answers back. Kings up by 8 with 6 minutes in the second left.
Artest was recently fined 5,000 dollars for comments aimed at his coach. How surprising. Kobe's finally back in but Gasol loses the ball again. Garcia was ****ing open again, come on. ****, Kobe's the only guy that came to play, he'll get FTs. He has 20. Kobe was lagging behind and got the assist to Lamar. Lucky. Odom bumps Artest out of bounds, not a great idea. Gasol makes the Kings pay for the double coverage by getting it to Odom. Kobe misses the finger roll but the Lakers keep the ball. Gasol puts his head down and gets a reach called. We're still down by 11. Stupid ass Kings didn't see Pau coming, hah. Radman gets his third foul called on him, Later man. Sasha for three again!!! Jesus Christ, it's 71-60 SAC. Kobe needs some ****ing support. I got worried about Kobe when he fell down but everything should be fine. Time to lock down in the second half. Although, everything in this world is second to me watching "Life with Luke". I can't wait to know about our future Franchise-SF's adventures.
Udrih gets a quick two but Mikki commits a 3-second violation that gives Fish an extra point. Gasol throws the ball away, stop the errant passes. Another 3-second violation but on Artest playing offense. Vlad for three!!! Udrih drives for a layup Artest hits an MJ shot, you have to give him that. Vlad hits a long two!
The Lakers are having some problems on keeping the ball there having bad decisions that are making them lose the ball
