Lakers 116, Kings 108 (OT)
Kobe Bryant scored 36 points and the visiting Los Angeles Lakers earned the No. 2 seed in the West with a 116-108 overtime victory Wednesday over Sacramento in perhaps the Kings' final game in Northern California.
Bryant made a 3-pointer with just under five seconds remaining in regulation and the Lakers pulled away in overtime to maintain second place ahead of the Dallas Mavericks, who won earlier in the night.
Marcus Thornton scored 33 for the Kings (24-58), who likely bid farewell to the city they called home the past 26 seasons. Owners Joe and Gavin Maloof have received permission to relocate the team to Anaheim for next season pending approval from the NBA, which should come next month. Signs and banners were displayed throughout Power Balance Pavilion, known until this season as Arco Arena, as 17,621 fans showed their appreciation.
It was a day filled with tension on both teams. Bryant was fined $100,000 for his anti-gay slur toward referee Bennie Adams on Tuesday night after receiving his 15th technical foul of the season. The Lakers (57-25) also found out center Andrew Bynum has just a bone bruise on his right knee and should not miss any playoff games when they open this weekend against New Orleans.
Sacramento trailed by as many as 20 before rallying to tie it at 95 on Thornton's driving layup with 2:11 remaining. Jason Thompson dunked with 1:22 left as the Kings grabbed the lead. They went up 99-96 on two free throws before Bryant nailed a 25-footer from the right side with 4.8 seconds remaining.
Los Angeles' Lamar Odom had 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while Pau Gasol had 18 points and 13 rebounds.
For the Kings, Samuel Dalembert had 16 points and 18 rebounds, Tyreke Evans added 19 points and Thompson 16.