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Gasol, Lakers clip Kings

Nov 25, 2013 - 5:29 AM Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Entering Sunday's clash, the Sacramento Kings had scored 100 or more points in three consecutive games while the Los Angeles Lakers had held teams to double-digit efforts in three straight.

Something had to give.

The Lakers' defense proved up to the task, and Pau Gasol tallied 20 points and 10 rebounds as Los Angeles took down the Kings, 100-86, on the annual Chick Hearn Night from Staples Center.

"We're not thinking, we're reacting," said LA head coach Mike D'Antoni. "We're sharing the ball on offense, and that transfers to the defensive end. Everybody that went into the game did something positive."

Xavier Henry contributed 21 points off the bench on 7-of-11 shooting as Los Angeles won its third game in a row for the first time this season.

Jordan Hill, who was inserted into the starting lineup following a two-game slide earlier this month, went for 10 points and 13 rebounds. Hill has four double-doubles in six starts.

DeMarcus Cousins filled the stat sheet with 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in the loss, while Greivis Vasquez dropped 20 points with seven helpers.

"We had lapses," said Kings head coach Mike Malone. "I thought our energy could have been better. Even though we lost the game, there were positives. We're getting good looks, it's just making them."

Vasquez and Cousins combined for 21 of Sacramento's 24 first-quarter points with 13 and eight, respectively.

The Lakers closed the first frame on a 7-2 surge, as Henry's runner with 46.7 seconds left gave LA a 29-24 lead.

LA took control early in the second when Henry's three-point play followed consecutive treys from Shawne Williams and Jordan Farmar, as the Kings found themselves in a 13-point hole.

Isaiah Thomas made it 53-48 with his layup just before halftime, but Steve Blake came back with a layup inside a second left for a 55-48 score at the break.

Ben McLemore's three-point play pulled the Kings to within two early in the third, but the hosts had an answer in the form of a Hill hook shot and Jodie Meeks' alley-oop layup in transition.

Sacramento had just 13 points in the third period, and the Lakers scored 10 in a row to cap the frame.

Jimmer Fredette made it 73-64 with a 3-pointer to start the fourth, but Nick Young hit a jumper at the other end and the Lakers held a double-digit lead the rest of the way.

Game Notes

Cousins' string of three straight double-doubles came to an end ... LA's bench outscored their counterparts, 40-26 ... The Lakers doubled Sacramento in second chance points (14-7) and fastbreak points (20-10).