By Robert Steward

SACRAMENTO–

The Sacramento Kings returned home from their three-game road trip to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the Kings’ home finale at Sleep Train Arena. It was the first of basically a home-and-home series with the Lakers, as both teams will play each other in the season finale on Wednesday in Los Angeles at the Staples Center. Sacramento had dropped 8 out of their last 9 games and were without the likes of Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins and despite a total of 23 lead changes for the first 3 quarters, the Kings pulled away from the Lakers, outscoring them 27-18 in the final quarter en route to a 102-92 victory.

Both teams went back and forth for most of the first half. The Lakers’ biggest lead was 6, at 24-18, while the Kings’ biggest lead was only 3, at 31-28. As a result both teams were tied at 24 after the first quarter and also at the half, 51-51. The Kings came out of the halftime break to start the third quarter on a 8-2 run to take their biggest lead up to that point at 59-53. Back came the Lakers on a 13-4 run of their own to re-take the lead at 66-63. Sacramento eventually got the lead back and closed out the third leading 75-74.

Neither team was able to shake loose of the other until the Kings, with an 89-88 lead with 4:28 left, finally went on an extended 13-2 run to put the game out of reach. Omri Casspi was the star for Sacramento scoring a game-high 26 points, to go with 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Derrick Williams came off the bench to score 20, while Carl Landry started and added 14 points on 5 of 7 from the floor and making all 4 of his free throws in only 19 minutes. Ray McCallum added 12 with Jason Thompson and Andre Miller each chipping in with 10 to lead a balanced scoring attack. For the game Sacramento shot 49% from the floor, despite going 4 of 16 from 3-point range. A big free throw disparity favored the Kings as they converted 28 of 36 from the charity stripe while the Lakers only went to the line 13 times, hitting 8.

Los Angeles was short-handed due to injury as well, dressing only 9 players. As a result, starters Jordan Clarkson and Jabari Brown logged 47 and 46 minutes, respectively. Clarkson led the Lakers with 23 while sporting 6 assists and 5 steals. Brown and Jordan Hill added 18 apiece for the only Laker players in double figures. Sacramento improved to 28-53, while the Lakers dropped to 21-60.