Lakers Pummeled in Divac’s Return to Sacramento

ESPN.com: SACRAMENTO (AP) — Kenny Thomas had a career-high 32 points and 14 rebounds, and the Sacramento Kings beat the Los Angeles Lakers 124-105 on Sunday for their fourth high-scoring victory in five games.

Mike Bibby had 24 points and eight assists for the Kings, who blew out their biggest rivals with 68 points in the second half. Sacramento outrebounded the Lakers 62-32 and made 51 percent of its shots while scoring at least 118 points for the fifth time in seven games.

Seven Kings scored in double figures as they moved 1½ games ahead of idle Houston for the fifth seed in the Western Conference, which would set up a playoff meeting with the Dallas Mavericks for the fourth straight season. The Kings clinched their seventh straight playoff berth under coach Rick Adelman with a win at Portland on Friday night.

Kobe Bryant, playing with his bruised right shin heavily wrapped, scored 18 points and endured constant razzing in the Lakers’ 11th loss in 12 games. Caron Butler added 17 points, and Chucky Atkins had 15 points and nine assists.

Sacramento must win two of its final four regular-season games to finish with 50 victories for the fifth straight season — and if the Kings’ offense keeps clicking this way, it might not be difficult.

Thomas was dominant, scoring inside and outside against the Lakers’ subpar collection of defensive forwards. He went 10-for-14 from the field and made his first 12 free throws.

Thomas also had 14 of the Kings’ 43 points in the third quarter, when they took a 24-point lead. Adelman has opened up Sacramento’s offensive game plan since Chris Webber’s departure, and while the Kings haven’t gone on a prolonged winning streak, their offense has been more confident and efficient with each passing week.

Though both teams have slipped in the last year, this rivalry hasn’t cooled. Bryant sparked controversy last April when he inexplicably took just one shot in the first half of the Lakers’ loss to the Kings — but Los Angeles still came from behind to steal the Pacific Division title from the Kings.

And in December, Bryant scored 31 points as the Lakers won 115-99 at Arco Arena. It was the Kings’ biggest home loss in nearly seven years, though they’ve lost two more blowouts since then.

The Kings played without forward Corliss Williamson, who served a one-game suspension for hitting Portland’s Joel Przybilla in the head on Friday. Williamson’s suspension wasn’t handed down until one hour before the game, and Williamson had already begun to warm up.

A great word to describe the Lakers all year long has been “inconsistent.” What’s your feelings on this game? Any suggestions for closing out the season on a positive note? Sound off on the CL.com Forums!