Kings at Lakers
While the Los Angeles Lakers are in discussions with Phil Jackson about becoming head coach for the third time, interim coach Bernie Bickerstaff will again call the shots in Sunday’s home game against the Sacramento Kings. Jackson met with general manager Mitch Kupchak and executive vice president Jim Buss on Saturday and further conversations will be held in coming days. The Lakers fired Mike Brown on Friday, hours before rolling to a 101-77 win over the Golden State Warriors.
Sacramento is 0-3 on the road, but Sunday’s game is its lone away contest during a seven-game stretch. The Kings have topped 100 points just once this season and have scored 87 or fewer in three of their four losses. The Lakers played well in Bickerstaff’s first contest as interim coach. Kobe Bryant, who is publicly pushing for Jackson’s return, had 27 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, CSN (Sacramento), TWC SportsNet (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE KINGS (2-4): Third-year center DeMarcus Cousins fell one rebound short of his fourth consecutive double-double during a 14-point performance in Friday’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Cousins averaged 21.7 points and 13.0 rebounds over the previous three games. He is averaging 14.0 points and 10.1 rebounds in seven career meetings with Los Angeles. Sacramento will be without first-round pick Thomas Robinson, the power forward who will be finishing a two-game suspension for delivering an elbow to the neck of Detroit’s Jonas Jerebko on Nov. 7.
ABOUT THE LAKERS (2-4): Los Angeles will be without point guard Steve Nash for at least three more games. Nash was re-evaluated Friday night to see how the small fracture in his fibula is healing, and it was determined that he’s not yet ready to resume contact drills. Nash was injured during an Oct. 31 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Steve Blake has averaged 6.8 points and 2.8 assists in four starts as Nash’s replacement.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Sacramento went 2-1 against Los Angeles last season and has won three of the past five meetings.
2. Bryant is averaging 26.9 points, with a high game of 51, in 56 career contests against the Kings.
3. The Kings are holding opponents to 42.2 percent from the field, including an NBA-low 24.8 percent from 3-point range.