Kings Lose Late Lead to Lakers, 106-100
By: Morgan Ragan
The Los Angeles Lakers in their final game without Kobe Bryant took a 106-100 victory over the Sacramento Kings Friday night at Sleep Train Arena.
The Kings outrebounded the Lakers 51-36 but Los Angeles forced 17 turnovers and had control of the game in the final minutes.
Sacramento couldn't execute offensively turning the ball over late in the game and going scoreless for the last three and a half minutes until Ben McLemore hit a three with only six seconds left.
After the game head coach Michael Malone talked about the lack of execution late in the fourth quarter and the Kings inability to value the basketball.
"The one major word that jumps out to me with our team is discipline and we have none, " Malone said.
McLemore scored a career-high of 20 points, throwing down several dunks and going 4-7 behind the arc.
Lakers guard Jodi Meeks hit a three-pointer to help Los Angeles gain the momentum back and take the lead 101-97 with 1:08 left in the game.
The Kings came out of their final timeout and fed the ball to DeMarcus Cousins in the post who turned it over with 25 seconds to go.
"Like I said we beat ourselves in the end," Cousins said after the loss.
Cousins finished with his eighth double-double of the year scoring 20 points and grabbing 11 boards.
The Kings take on the 4-17 Jazz Saturday night in Utah.
You can hear Morgan with Deuce & J-Ross from 12-3 p.m. on KHTK. Follow her on Twitter: @momoragan
