Kobe, Lakers blow big lead, edge Kings in OT

Jan 5, 2007, 7:50 GMT

Sacramento, CA - Kobe Bryant scored nine of his game-high 42 points in overtime, as the Los Angeles Lakers beat Sacramento, 132-128, at ARCO Arena.

Bryant also had 10 rebounds and nine assists, as the Lakers won despite blowing a 21-point third-quarter lead, but recovered after the Kings collapsed at the end of the fourth quarter. Brian Cook added 26 points and Luke Walton had 16 before fouling out for the Lakers, who won their second straight.

'This is the second time in almost a year that we've had an outrageous game with this team,' Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. 'We were lucky to come out a winner in this one; they were the winner last year in the one they beat us.'

Mike Bibby totaled 38 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Kings, who had a two-game win streak broken. Kevin Martin tallied 21 points and Ron Artest scored 19 before exiting with six fouls for Sacramento.

The teams combined for 102 free throws.

The Kings were ahead 116-112 following two free throws from John Salmons with 6.7 seconds left in regulation, but after a timeout, Vladimir Radmanovic drained a three-pointer from the right corner two seconds later.

'We had an opportunity and we were able to capitalize on it,' Bryant said. 'I've seen weirder things happen. Inevitably, every time we play here we wind up having a really great game.'

The Lakers fouled before the ball was inbounded, but Bibby missed the ensuing free throw. Martin then made 1-of-2 at the line with four seconds left, allowing the Lakers a chance to tie and they took advantage. Bryant found Smush Parker with a layup just before the buzzer to even the game at 117.

'When you have free throw shooters like Kevin Martin and I who don't finish, that's what hurt us the most tonight,' Bibby said. 'It was kind of on our shoulders to make those and we let our team down. If you make free throws the game is over.'

In the overtime, it was all Bryant. The perennial All-Star sliced his way for a layup to open the extra session. Parker then jammed after a Bibby turnover.

The Kings got within 122-121 on a Corliss Williamson dunk with 1:45 left.

A free throw contest ensued in the final minute. Parker made one, but Bibby hit a three-pointer to get the Kings within 127-126 with 11.7 seconds remaining. Bryant then made one with 10.6 seconds left, giving the Kings a chance for a tie.

However, Williamson missed in the lane and Bryant got the rebound. The Lakers star hit two more from the line before Martin jammed in the final second. Bryant iced the victory with two more from the charity stripe with a half second left.

'You live for shots like that when the game is on the line and I would have loved for that shot to go down, but unfortunately it didn't,' Williamson said. 'I feel bad about it, but you have to let it go at some point in time.'

Andrew Bynum had 15 points and 11 boards for the Lakers.

Williamson ended with 18 points.

The Lakers dominated early with the first six points, on the way to a 33-18 lead after the opening 12 minutes. The second quarter was scoring binge with 81 combined points, but LA was in front 74-58 at the break.

The margin was increased to 83-62 with 8:29 left in the third following a Cook three-pointer, before the Kings closed within 90-83 going into the fourth.

Game Notes

Under Jackson, the Lakers are 15-10 against the Kings.

Bryant surpassed A.C. Green (735) on the franchises all-time games played list. Only Kareem Abdul- Jabbar (1,093), Jerry West (932), James Worthy (926), Earvin 'Magic' Johnson (906), Michael Cooper (873), Elgin Baylor (846) and Byron Scott (846) will have played more games that Bryant (736) in a Lakers' uniform.

This was the first of four regular season matchups. The Kings and Lakers split last season's series with each team winning both home games.

Sacramento is 2-1 on its five-game homestand with contests upcoming against Portland and Cleveland.

The Lakers went 30-of-44 at the foul line, compared to 43-of-58 for Sacramento.

The Kings were 3-of-17 from beyond the arc.

The teams combined for 47 free throws in the second quarter.

Kings center Brad Miller was out due to flu-like symptoms.

The 58 free throws is a Kings franchise record.

© 2007 The Sports Network