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Lakers take on struggling Kings

Dec 9, 2008 - 11:36 AM LA Lakers (17-2) at Sacramento (5-16), 10:00 p.m. EST

SACRAMENTO, California (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Lakers look to continue the Sacramento Kings' woes when they visit Arco Arena on Tuesday.

Los Angeles has won three straight games, including Sunday's 105-92 triumph against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Kobe Bryant led five players in double figures with 20 points and Andrew Bynum notched his second straight double-double with 14 and 14 rebounds.

The win helped the Lakers equal their 1985-86 squad for the best 19-game start in franchise history. That season, the club eventually began 19-2.

Meanwhile, Sacramento has been going in the opposite direction, losing eight straight contests.

The Kings shot 29 percent (29-of-99) and were blown out, 118-86, against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.

Sacramento has dropped eight straight at home, tying a franchise record, and has not recorded a win in front of its home crowd since November 9.

To make matters worse, the Kings likely will be without Kevin Martin, who re-aggravated his left ankle injury in Saturday's loss to the Nuggets. Martin, who leads Sacramento in scoring at 20.8 points per game, missed 12 contests earlier in the season.

The Lakers are 11-0 against teams from the Western Conference this season.