No One Expected This, Except the Kings…
Judging by the total shock displayed by the Lakers and national media after the Kings crushed Los Angeles on Friday night at the STAPLES Center, no one really had any idea that Sacramento would explode the way in which it did.

No one with the exception of the Kings themselves.

“From me it felt normal, because we can have a lot of explosive quarters,” said Chris Webber, who led the game with 26 points. “It just felt good. We wanted movement, we just wanted guys to attack the glass to rebound and hit the open shots and one thing we did tonight was that we waited for the second and third options.”

The manner in which the Kings were able to take apart the Lakers was reminiscent of a regular season game in which the stakes were minimal, not a pivotal Game Three of the Western Conference Finals. Sacramento jumped all over Los Angeles from the opening period, taking a 17-point lead at one point, and then pushed the lead even further in the second half, to as many as 26 points.

“They came out hard and shot the ball very well,” said Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal. “I thought they played well, it was a good game on their part. We just got into a hole, and we could not really get out of that hole. We started late to try and pick it up, but that is a good enough team over there to withheld our run, and now we just have to fight.”

Cardiac Arrest…
For 45 seconds of the fourth quarter, the Los Angeles Lakers gave just about every Kings fan watching the contest some sort of heart palpitation.

In what had to be one of the most incredible runs in the history of the NBA, the Lakers were able to score 14 unanswered points in less than a minute (from 7:53 to the 7:08 mark), cutting a once invincible lead from 26 down to a manageable 12 points.

The frustrating part of the whole thing for Sacramento was that they couldn’t even inbound the ball on four straight possessions, turning it over without even getting the ball into play

Here’s a rundown of the 45 seconds, complete with the GENERAL reactions of Kings fans:

Devean George comes down and hits a three-pointer: Kings 87, Lakers 64
(Kings Fans: “Who cares, we still have a 23-point lead. We’re crushing them”)

Bibby turns the ball over on the inbounds, Brian Shaw gets a lay-up, Staples crowd starts to get into it: Kings 87, Lakers 66
(Kings Fans: “I’m mildly concerned, but expected some sort of run by LA. Still a 21-point lead.”)

Webber turns the ball over on the inbounds, Kobe Bryant hits a three, STAPLES getting loud: Kings 87, Lakers 69
(Kings Fans: “O.K., what the heck is going on here? Let’s just inbound the ball here and run some clock. We’ll be alright.”)

Devean George steals the inbound pass from Bobby Jackson, Lindsey Hunter nail a three-pointer, STAPLES at a fervor pitch: Kings 87, Lakers 72
(Kings Fans: “Oh my goodness, are we trying to give this game away?!! JUST INBOUND THE @#&$ BALL!!!”)

Doug Christie turns the ball over on the fourth straight inbound, Kobe hits another three, STAPLES going bonkers: Kings 87, Lakers 75
(Kings Fans now in a total state of shock/bewilderment: “@#$$% @#$%%!!! What are we doing??? I can’t believe this, why don’t we just hand them the game!!! ARRRGGGHH!! If we lose this…”)

Ok, well maybe that wasn’t the reaction of most Kings fans, but it sounded awfully familiar to anyone who happened to be anywhere near yours truly. Thankfully, Chris Webber showed why he is the Kings’ best player, hitting a jumper to calm the crowd, and Mr. Clutch, Mike Bibby, converted a three-point play to push the lead right back to 17 points.

It was never in doubt.

Game Four Pressure…
If Sacramento came out loose and relaxed for Game Three, it should be even more so for Sunday in Game Four.

The pressure now lies with Los Angeles to win because Sacramento has achieved the one thing it needed most, a win in LA, giving home court advantage back to the Kings. If the Lakers lose in Game Four, they will be in deep trouble, and they know it.

“This is a huge challenge that we have facing us right now,” said Kobe Bryant, who struggled for the most part of Friday, sans the fourth quarter. “This is a good Sacramento team and we have to be ready to accept the challenge and I think we’re going to be ready to do that.”