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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
LOS ANGELES (AP) – With the playoffs only 3½ weeks away, it
appears the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers are in a bit
of trouble.
|  | | Predrag Stojakovic scored 22 points and put some numbers up on the hustle board, too. |
Chris Webber had 23 points and 12 rebounds, and Peja Stojakovic
scored seven of his 22 points in the first 3½ minutes of the fourth
quarter as the Sacramento Kings beat the Lakers 108-84 Wednesday
night.
The Kings scored seven of the first half's final nine points to
go ahead for good, then outscored the Lakers 51-31 in the second
half, when Los Angeles made only 11 of 43 shots (25.6 percent).
"It was just a terrific win," Kings coach Rick Adelman said.
"It was one of our best road wins. After Sunday's game, and then
playing overtime last night, our guys mentally really got into this
game."
The Lakers rallied for an 84-72 victory over the Kings in
Sacramento on Sunday, putting the game away by scoring 18 straight
fourth-quarter points to overcome a nine-point deficit.
The Kings then beat the New York Knicks 124-117 in overtime
Tuesday night.
"It was kind of payback for Sunday," Stojakovic said.
"Back-to-back, that's tough. We really looked kind of fresh,
didn't we? They looked tired, and they were at home."
By handing the Lakers their most one-sided loss at home this
season, the Pacific Division-leading Kings extended their lead over
the Lakers to two games. Sacramento has 12 games left, Los Angeles
has 10.
Shaquille O'Neal scored 25 points in the first half, but was
held to eight in the final 24 minutes to finish with 33 along with
11 rebounds. He left Staples Center without speaking to reporters.
Rick Fox was the only other Laker to score in double figures,
finishing with 12 points and eight assists.
"That was an ugly (second) half," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "We just couldn't hit a shot. They were doubly hot. The third quarter malaise I can't explain, except to say they weren't going to give Shaq the same kind of shots and collapsed on him. We had open shots and couldn't convert them."
The win also snapped the Kings' six-game regular-season losing
streak to the Lakers, including three this season. Sacramento has
won 10 of 13 since Webber returned from a 10-game absence because
of an ankle injury.
The Lakers, who lost their second in a row -- each by more than
20 points -- played their fourth straight game without Kobe Bryant,
who has a sprained left ankle. It's uncertain when the NBA's
third-leading scorer will return.
"This was a very important win, especially at this place,"
Webber said. "We wanted some revenge. For me, it's satisfying, the
team as well. When you lose and you play bad, it doesn't feel
good."
Webber scored 15 points in Sunday's loss, making only 7-of-26
shots.
Hedo Turkoglu scored 17 points for the Kings, making 6-of-7
shots, including three from 3-point range along with a pair of free
throws. Doug Christie added 13 points and Bobby Jackson had 11 on
5-of-5 shooting.
Sacramento outscored the Lakers 16-7 to finish the second
quarter and start the third for a 66-58 lead, and the Kings scored
10 straight points, including five by Webber and four by
Stojakovic, to make it 78-63.
The Lakers drew within 10 before Turkoglu scored the last five
points of the third quarter to make it 85-70, and Stojakovic helped
the Kings outscore the Lakers 15-5 to start the fourth period,
clinching the victory.
The Lakers made eight of their first 11 shots, including 3-of-3
each by Derek Fisher and Horace Grant to take a 17-7 lead.
After the Kings scored seven straight points, O'Neal went on a
rampage, scoring his team's next 13 points to give him 17 in the
first quarter and putting the Lakers on top 30-27.
Reserves Turkoglu and Jackson combined to score 18 points in the
second period to help the Kings take a 57-53 halftime lead. Each
made four shots in as many tries.
Game notes
Jackson returned to action after missing Tuesday night's game to be with his ill mother in North Carolina. ... The Kings,
averaging 101.3 points, and the Lakers, averaging 100.7, are the
NBA's highest-scoring teams. ... The Lakers have a 6-3 record
without Bryant, who is averaging 29.2 points. ... The Lakers had
won 18 of the previous 22 regular-season games between the teams
dating to last season. ... Webber made only 19-of-58 shots in the
previous two games between the teams. He missed his first five
shots in this game before making three straight, and finished
11-of-23. ... Sacramento's Vlade Divac, who had five points and 10 rebounds, had two teeth knocked out midway through the fourth quarter by an O'Neal elbow. Divac said afterward he didn't believe it was intentional.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Sacramento Clubhouse
LA Lakers Clubhouse
Jackson clarifies 'sabotage' reference ... sort of
RECAPS
New Jersey 99
Denver 96
Orlando 96
Philadelphia 95
Phoenix 103
Cleveland 94
Dallas 94
Portland 84
Seattle 94
Minnesota 93
Sacramento 108
LA Lakers 84
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