After a competitive three quarters, the Kings ran away from the Lakers in the fourth to secure a 108-101 victory on Sunday afternoon in Sacramento.
Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, back from a bout of viral meningitis, finished with 29 points and 14 rebounds, getting to the line 15 times.
The Lakers had established a 13-point lead in the third quarter but the Kings reeled off 15 points in a row to take the lead.
Nick Young gave the Lakers an early boost in the fourth by scoring seven straight points, putting his team up by six with eight minutes left.
The Kings went on to outscore the Lakers, 25-12, to win by seven.
Young led the Lakers with 26 points. Kobe Bryant managed 25 points, but struggled with nine turnovers while missing 22 of 30 shots (26.7%).
Ed Davis was the team’s only other double-figure scorer with 10.
Rudy Gay scored 24 for the Kings while Ben McLemore had 23 and Darren Collison added 19.
The Lakers shot 37.9% from the field while the Kings made 48.1%.
Turnovers were an issue for the Lakers, who had 17. The Kings had 14 miscues.
After losing three in a row, the Lakers (8-19) play again on Tuesday at Staples Center against the Golden State Warriors (22-3). The Kings (12-15) visit the Warriors on Monday.
Kings 81, Lakers 80 (end of third quarter)
The Lakers seemed to take control to start the second half, pulling ahead by 13 points with just more than six minutes left in the quarter.
The Kings responded with 15 consecutive points, ended in the final minute by a Robert Sacre free throw.
Gone was the Lakers’ lead heading into the fourth and final quarter.
Kobe Bryant leads all scorers with 23 points while Nick Young added 14 off the bench for the Lakers, who are shooting 41.5% from the field.
DeMarcus Cousins has a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds while Ben McLemore scored 18 and Darren Collison contributed 17 for the Kings, who are shooting 47.5% from the field.
Lakers 60, Kings 52 (halftime)
The Lakers finished the first half with their biggest lead of the game, up eight points on the Kings.
After initially overtaking Sacramento by four, the Lakers stumbled — giving up a 13-4 run to the Kings — to fall behind.
The Lakers finished the quarter with nine points while the Kings made just one free throw over the final minute and a half.
Kobe Bryant leads the Lakers, who are shooting 43.2% from the field, with 14 points. Nick Young scored 12 off the bench.
DeMarcus Cousins is the game’s leading scorer with 15, making seven of nine free throw. Darren Collison added 12.
The Kings shot 45% from the field.
The Lakers had an 11-4 advantage on the offensive glass.
Kings 26, Lakers 23 (end of first quarter)
The Lakers started slowly in Sacramento, falling behind by as many as 10 points with 3 1/2 minutes left in the quarter.
The team climbed back into the game over the final minutes, outscoring the Kings, 11-4, to close to within three.
Kobe Bryant struggled initially, turning the ball over four times while missing five of seven shots. The veteran still leads the Lakers with eight points.
The Kings got eight points from Darren Collison and six from DeMarcus Cousins, shooting 54.5% from the field as a team.
The Lakers shot just 38.9% from the field.
Nick Young was allowed to play by the league, avoiding a suspension for a flagrant foul 2 ejection on Friday in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Pregame
The Lakers (8-18) lost a close battle on Friday night to the Oklahoma City Thunder (13-14).
On Sunday, they’ll visit the Sacramento Kings (11-15), a team that recently fired Cach Mike Malone, installing Ty Corbin in his place in the interim.
DeMarcus Cousins is working his way back after a bout with viral meningitis.
The Lakers are still down Xavier Henry (Achilles), Ryan Kelly (hamstring), Steve Nash (back) and Julius Randle (leg).
For an in-depth breakdown, check out Preview: Lakers at Sacramento Kings.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.
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