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Kings square off with Lakers at Staples Center

Jan 28, 2011 - 4:30 PM (Sports Network) - The two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers look to continue their dominance over the Pacific Division-rival Sacramento Kings tonight in the continuation of a five-game homestand at Staples Center.

The Lakers have won two meetings with Sacramento this season and eight straight overall, improving to 16-3 in the past 19 matchups between the teams with a 113-80 rout on Dec. 3 in Hollywood. Under head coach Phil Jackson, the Lakers are 29-13 against the Kings. In 52 career games against the Kings, including 44 starts, Lakers star Kobe Bryant is averaging 26.3 points.

Sacramento is winless in its last six games at the Lakers.

Los Angeles kicked off the residency with Tuesday's 120-91 victory over the Utah Jazz, as Bryant led the way with 21 points. Pau Gasol scored 20 points and Andrew Bynum added 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who shot 62 percent from the field to win for the 10th time in their last 12 games.

"We just focused on our defense," said Bryant, "and having worked at it for a couple days, we were very sharp."

LA has won seven in a row at home and will also host the Celtics, Rockets and Spurs on the residency. The Lakers are 18-5 at Staples Center this season. Bryant earned his 13th consecutive All-Star selection with 2,380,016 votes.

Sacramento has lost five of six games, including Tuesday's 94-89 setback versus the Charlotte Bobcats at Arco Arena.

Reigning Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans and Carl Landry both finished with 19 points for the Kings.

"We obviously didn't want to have a let down, even though this is a good Charlotte team. But we kind of got out of our game," said Jason Thompson, who had 14 points and eight rebounds in the loss.

After tonight's game, the Kings, who are 4-16 as the guest this season, will return to California's capital to face New Orleans, Boston, San Antonio, Utah, Dallas and Oklahoma City.