Kings 106, Lakers 98
LOS ANGELES -- Darren Collison and DeMarcus Cousins scored 22 points apiece, sparking the Sacramento Kings to a 106-98 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night at Staples Center.
Rudy Gay added 20 points and eight rebounds for the Kings, who beat the Lakers for the seventh consecutive time. Sacramento (26-40) also swept the regular-season series with the Lakers (14-54) for the first time in 54 seasons.
Kings point guard Rajon Rondo dished out 12 assists to go along with nine points.
Lou Williams came off the bench to score 17 points for the Lakers, who lost their third in a row. Julius Randle and rookie D'Angelo Russell finished with 14 points each, while Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. chipped in 12 points apiece. Randle also had 11 rebounds.
Kobe Bryant sat out the game after his sore right shoulder flared up again. It was the 15th game Bryant missed this season.
Sacramento, which never trailed and led by as much as 23 points, seized control from the start. The Kings built a double-digit lead early and did not allow the margin to dip below that until the fourth quarter.
Clarkson's 3-point jumper pulled the Lakers within 94-87 with 4:23 remaining in the contest. Less than two minutes later, two foul shots by Randle cut the deficit to 97-91, but the Kings converted a three-point play 17 seconds later when Gay scored and Cousins was fouled on the play. Cousins' free throw made it 100-91.
Russell hit three free throws to reduce the lead to six again, but Gay's runner and two free throws pushed the advantage to 104-94 with 1:54 remaining.
The Kings forced the Lakers to miss eight of their initial nine shots as Sacramento skated to a 32-15 advantage after one quarter.
Los Angeles got as close as 10 in the second quarter before Sacramento stretched the lead to 57-41 at the break.
The Kings dictated inside, scoring 40 of their first-half points in the paint compared to 24 for the Lakers. Overall, Sacramento outscored Los Angeles 60-48 in the category.
The Lakers committed 22 turnovers (leading to 30 points) to 17 for the Kings (leading to 17 points).
NOTES: Kings C DeMarcus Cousins scored at least 30 points 24 times this season. Cousins ranks second behind Mitch Richmond, who recorded 26, for most 30-point performances in a season in the Kings' Sacramento era. Cousins, who topped 30 or more in three of his previous four games, also has 17 30-point, 10-rebound performances, three shy of Chris Webber's Sacramento mark for a season. ... Los Angeles F Kobe Bryant (sore right shoulder) is questionable for Friday's game against the Phoenix Suns. ... Lakers reserve F Brandon Bass missed the game with a corneal abrasion in his right eye. ... The Kings return home to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. ... Kings G Ben McLemore missed his fourth consecutive game due to a right ring finger fracture.