By JOSH DUBOW

Posted Mar 17 2010 12:46AM

SACRAMENTO, Calif.(AP) Kobe Bryant scored 30 points, Pau Gasol added 28 points and 11 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers completed a sweep of their Northern California swing with a 106-99 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.

After committing 24 turnovers and barely holding on for a 124-121 victory at Golden State on Monday night, the Lakers were much sharper on the back end of their trip. They committed just two turnovers in the first half and 10 for the game, overpowering the Kings inside to win their fourth straight following a season-high, three-game losing streak.

Andrew Bynum added 21 points and 12 rebounds, and the Lakers finished with 60 points in the paint to remain four games ahead of Denver for the best record in the Western Conference. Gasol and Bynum combined to make 21-of-28 shots.

Rookie Tyreke Evans had 25 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists for the Kings, narrowly missing his second career triple-double. Sacramento has lost five straight games to the Lakers.

After needing two overtimes to win the first meeting between the teams in December and a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Bryant to complete a comeback from 20 points down to win on New Year's Day, the Lakers had a relatively easy time in the third of four meetings between the teams.

The crowd was energized in just the third sellout of the season. But it wasn't nearly as unfriendly to the Lakers as it was during the cowbell-clanging peak of the rivalry in the early 2000s. There was a sizable contingent of Lakers fans who were almost as loud as the Kings supporters at various points.

The Lakers opened a 10-point lead midway through the third quarter on consecutive 3-pointers by Bryant and Lamar Odom. Los Angeles maintained control the rest of the third and took a 77-68 lead into the final quarter when Odom scored on a drive with a second remaining.

The Lakers then scored the first seven points of the fourth, capped by an emphatic dunk by Shannon Brown that made it 84-68. The Kings were never able to make a serious dent in that deficit the rest of the way.

After a dazzling spin move by Evans on Ron Artest gave the Kings an early lead, the Lakers ended the first quarter on a 17-4 run to take a 28-17 lead after one. Bryant scored 10 straight points in one stretch, getting inside with ease against the Kings.

But Sacramento got right back into the game with a 16-3 run early in the second quarter and tied the game at 33 on a 3-pointer by Omri Casspi. The game remained close from there with the Lakers taking a 49-48 lead at the half that would have been bigger except Bryant missed three of four free throws in the final minute.

NOTES: Artest played to the crowd in the arena he used to call home. After one basket in the third quarter, he flexed, kissed his biceps and then smiled at the crowd before heading back on defense. ... Evans' first triple double came on March 10 against Toronto. ... The other sellouts in Sacramento were for the home opener against Memphis and the Lakers' first trip into town on Dec. 26. ... The Lakers are 11-6 on the second half of back-to-backs.

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Lakers’ Coach Phil Jackson

Tonight’s game…
“Our second quarter was the nemesis for us again tonight. Our group went out there and went 0-for-8 (in the second quarter). Four guys went out there to play that role. It put them right back in the game, gave them some energy. Then (Lamar) Odom got the technical foul and it contributed to that energy and resurgence for them. We came out the second and played the game that we wanted to play.”

Andrew Bynum’s performance…
“I think we have a better idea what and how to use Drew. Inside he got the resurgence after he really hurt his hip and knee bruise. There were a couple of things physically that kept him from having the power that he likes to have in the post.”

Tyreke Evans’ performance…
“Tonight he almost had a triple-double. He showed a lot of capability against a strong defensive player like Ron Artest.”

Lakers Guard Kobe Bryant

Back-to-back games…
“We’re playing the right way in terms of effort. We’re playing with the right energy to win games. That’s a big step. That’s the kind of things I want to see, playing with more urgency.”

Close games against the Sacramento Kings…
“I think we’re alert, period. I don’t think it mattered who were playing. Right now I think we are alert for sure and that kind of makes us pay more attention because we’ve had difficulties within the season.”

Playing against Curry last night and Tyreke Evans tonight…
“Tyreke is a grown man. Stephen Curry is a phenomenal player. They are completely different players so you can’t compare the two. I might be a little biased too because I’m from Philadelphia and so is Tyreke. Philly guys just have the all-around game, that’s just kind of how it is.”

Lakers Forward Ron Artest

Playing in Sacramento…
“There is no feeling. It’s just mute. Right now we’re just trying to win.”

Tyreke Evans’ game…
“He’s a good player. He’s playing like he’s Rookie of the Year.”

Kings Head Coach Paul Westphal

“I can’t come in here and be super down about our effort against the NBA Champions. It’s really fantastic to have this building full. Even though there were too many Lakers fans for my taste, it’s a great thing to have that support. I thought we played a good basketball game in a lot of ways – solid. We need to get a few more rebounds against a team that has great size, need to knock down a few more shots and need to make a few more experienced plays that the Lakers are great at because of how long they’ve been together, their cohesiveness and how good they are. I was pleased with our team. I thought there were a lot of good things – but we have to move on to the next one.”

“I thought Tyreke (Evans) missed some lay-ups that he usually makes – I don’t think Ron (Artest) had much to do with it. I doubt if Ron would say he had much to do with it. Tyreke got where he needed to go, made great decisions – he had 25 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists, one turnover. If that’s stopping (Tyreke), I’d like someone to stop him every night.”

“If you remember Parish, McHale and Bird, that was a pretty tall frontline too. You have to go to the great teams to find anybody to compare this Laker team to. They can put up a lineup out there that gives them a size mismatch at every position. They decided to play Kobe (Bryant) at point, (Ron) Artest at two with (Lamar) Odom, (Pau) Gasol and (Andrew) Bynum – that’s a very long, versatile, experienced team. They present problems for anybody with their mismatches.”

“I thought that Jason (Thompson), Omri (Casspi), Francisco (Garcia) and (Andres) Nocioni really brought a lot of energy out there off the bench and did a great job in the second quarter. We did well in the second half too. The Lakers’ bench hit some more shots in the second half – we were trying to get them to shoot outside and they finally started hitting some. That gave them a little bit of space and that was all they needed.”

“We felt that offensively we could get some good shots against their length. Our bigs are all good shooters, they have good midrange games and we were able to hurt them that way but they hurt us more inside. Gasol and Bynum were really too tall for us to stop them but when we started double-teaming them we took chances on making them miss some threes and they didn’t miss enough of them.”

Kings Guard Tyreke Evans

On his plan for the night
“When you are playing against the (NBA) champs, you have to be pumped. From the get go tonight my goal was to come out and attack.”

On his spin move for a layup in the 1st quarter
“I caught him (Ron Artest) off guard and he tried to cut to the left and I spun to the right.”

On sensing if the team is growing together
“Definitely. Coach said that we just have to put it all together. The Lakers have been together for a long time and we just all got together. We have to keep working and play as a team.”

On knowing if he was one assist shy of his second triple double
“No, I didn’t know. It would have been nice to get it, but it didn’t happen.”

On going against the Lakers
“It’s tough. Sometimes, guys like Ron Artest let you beat them, but then Andrew Bynum will get a block shot. Two big guys, it is tough to get a shot over them. I was trying to kick the ball out and find the open guy for the shots.  If we would have (made) more shots and (got more) rebounds we would have won the game.”

Kings Forward Carl Landry

On the Lakers play tonight
“They just execute their stuff and they run their stuff well. They keep fighting. Andrew Bynum got off to a good start and was able to get second chance points down low. Pau Gasol just kept coming and kept making jump shots, a couple left handed. They just kept planning and executed their offense in the end.”

On having a full house of mostly Lakers fans
“When I came out, I was really surprised. I thought we were almost playing in the Staples Center. I have never seen anything like that before. I know we are in California, but to see all those Lakers fans out there was kind of disappointing, but at the same time it was kind of motivating knowing that if we continue to work hard and do the right things and win ball games, then those Lakers fans could be Kings fans.

On the Lakers front line
“You just have to adjust. For me that is just an advantage being shorter and playing against guys who are bigger than me, I just go right by them. That is an advantage, so I like playing against them. Obviously tonight I didn’t really show it at all and I didn’t have the game I wanted to have, but playing against bigger guys is an advantage for me. It isn’t a disadvantage at all.”

On where the Lakers are right now
“I’m not sure. I am not even worried about the Lakers, I just worry about us. I am worried about us getting better every day, every practice and every game. I don’t care what is going on over there. I could care less.”

After barely holding on to beat a last-place team, the Los Angeles Lakers still don't appear to be back in top form yet. They should have plenty of chances to earn convincing victories versus inferior clubs over the next six days.

Winners of three straight, the Lakers hope to put together a more complete performance despite a quick turnaround as they visit the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.

A string of wins gives Western Conference-leading Los Angeles (49-18) some confidence following its first three-game skid in more than two years. However, though their streak includes a 102-96 victory over Phoenix on Friday night, the Lakers can't be feeling entirely secure about their play following a 124-121 win over Golden State on Monday night.

Los Angeles led by 11 late in the fourth quarter, but the victory wasn't in hand until Warriors guards Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis missed 3-pointers in the final seconds. Ellis' shot bounced on the rim three times before falling aside at the buzzer.

"You're not going to see anything remotely close to this in the playoffs," Lakers star Kobe Bryant said. "Not even close. There's nothing you can gauge in this game."

The Lakers had strong numbers offensively against a poor Warriors defense, but they committed 24 turnovers. That included a season-high nine by Bryant.

Golden State is the type of team Los Angeles usually handles easily. After their matchup with the Kings (23-44), the Lakers will be back home Friday night to face Minnesota - which has the West's worst record - before hosting Washington two days later.v

Los Angeles has had trouble against Sacramento this season, needing two overtimes to win 112-103 on the road Dec. 26. Bryant had two clutch 3-pointers in the second OT, and in the next matchup made a buzzer-beating shot from beyond the arc as the Lakers overcame a 20-point deficit to beat the Kings 109-108 on Jan. 1.v

Bryant is averaging 38.5 points and 2.5 steals while shooting 9 for 15 from 3-point range in those contests.

Los Angeles may be headed for another tight matchup, playing a Sacramento team that has won four of six at home, including a 103-99 victory over Utah on Feb. 26.

"With Kobe (Bryant) coming here there is going to be a good crowd," Sacramento rookie Tyreke Evans said. "We have to bring our 'A' game."

The Kings had little trouble against the Timberwolves, resting their starters down the stretch of a 114-100 win Sunday night.

Evans just missed his second triple-double in five days, posting 29 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds before leaving the game with 6:04 remaining as coach Paul Westphal decided to empty his bench.

Evans recorded his first career triple-double in a 113-90 win over Toronto on Wednesday night, finishing with 19 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds. "I think he's going to have lots and lots of triple-doubles in his career," Westphal said.

The apparent frontrunner in the rookie of the year race, Evans is averaging 20.3 points, 5.6 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals. He missed Sacramento's last matchup with Los Angeles due to a sprained ankle.

The Kings have lost 10 of their last 12 versus the Lakers, surrendering 115.4 points per game.

Ron Artest (sprained left thumb) is probable.
Kobe Bryant (avulsion fracture, right index finger) is probable.
Sasha Vujacic (sprained right shoulder) is probable.
Luke Walton (pinched nerve, back) is out indefinitely.

Jon Brockman (sprained medical collateral ligament, right knee) is out.

SEASON & SERIES NOTES; CONNECTIONS
The Lakers currently lead the season series with Sacramento 2-0, after taking last season’s series with Sacramento 3-1 for the third straight season. The two franchises have met 271 times overall and 107 times since the Kings moved to Sacramento. The Lakers lead the all-time series with the Kings 185-86 (77-30 vs. Sacramento). In their last 10 meetings, the Lakers are 8-2 against Sacramento. The Lakers are 14-7 all-time against the Kings at STAPLES Center and have gone 7-3 in their last 10 home contests. The Lakers are 6-4 in their last 10 games at ARCO Arena including a 6-1 mark in their past seven trips to the state capitol. In their first meeting this season on 12/26/09, the Lakers defeated the Kings 112-103 in double-overtime at ARCO Arena, while using a Kobe Bryant three-point buzzer-beater to win their second meeting of the season 109-108 at STAPLES Center on 1/1/10. Two seasons ago, on April 6, 2008, the Lakers defeated the Kings by 22 points, their largest victory in Sacramento since a 23-point win 3/23/89. In 2006-07, the Lakers were whistled for 42 personal fouls in their 132-128 overtime victory January 4, 2007 at ARCO Arena, establishing a new Los Angeles era franchise record. The Lakers last committed 42 personal fouls back on 2/17/57 versus St. Louis when the team was still in Minneapolis. Additionally, the Lakers and Kings combined for 80 personal fouls and 102 free throws on the night, which was, at the time, the most fouls committed by two teams in more than seven years. Under head coach Phil Jackson, the Lakers are 25-13 against the Kings. In 49 career games against the Kings including 41 starts, Kobe Bryant is averaging 26.2 points. Pau Gasol has also averaged 20+ points for his career against the Kings, posting 21.1 points per game in 31 meetings (all starts). The Lakers and Kings haven’t met in the postseason since the 2002 Western Conference Finals. While Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher both played in that series, no Kings remain on the current roster from that playoff series.

PLAYING NELLIE BALL
With the Lakers wild 124-121 victory over the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena 3/15/10, the Lakers swept their season-series with Golden State 4-0 for the second straight season. In the victory, the Lakers outrebounded the Warriors by 31 (56-25), marking their largest rebound advantage since outrebounding the Washington Bullets by 33 (61-28) in a 129-94 victory in Los Angeles on 3/16/94. More recently, the Lakers outrebounded Don Nelson’s Warriors by 30 (63-33) in a 115-113 victory in Los Angeles on 3/25/07. On the other hand, in the Lakers recent victory in Golden State 3/15/10, the Lakers committed 24 turnovers, while forcing just five Warriors turnovers. The last time the Lakers had 19 or more turnovers than their opponent came back in 1985, when Los Angeles committed 20 more turnovers than Portland (30-10) in a 135- 133 overtime victory in Los Angeles 4/7/85. League-wide, the last time that a team had 19 or more turnovers than their opponent in a game came on 1/4/06, when the Celtics defeated the Charlotte Bobcats 109-106 despite committing 19 more turnovers than Charlotte (24-5).

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER
For the 6th time this season, Kobe Bryant helped secure a victory for the Lakers in the final seconds on a 17-foot fade-away jumper with 1.9 seconds remaining 3/9 vs. Toronto (109-107). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, since the stat began being tracked prior to the 2000-01 season, Bryant now has the most game winning field goals of any player in a single season over the last 10 years (FGM in last 10 seconds of the 4th quarter or overtime). Carmelo Anthony ranks second on this list with five game-winning field goals made during the 2005-06 season. Bryant’s game winning shots this season include three shots at the buzzer with no time remaining (3-point FG 12/4 vs. Miami (108-107), FG in overtime 12/16 at Milwaukee (107-106), FG 1/1 vs. Sacramento (109-108)) and three shots in the final seconds (7.3 seconds left 1/31 at Boston (90-89), 4.3 seconds left 2/23 at Memphis (99-98), 1.9 seconds left 3/9 vs. Toronto (109-107)). In all, Bryant has 20 field goals that have given his team the lead within the last 10 seconds of a fourth quarter or overtime since the start of the 2000-01 season, the most in the league over that span (second most is 13 by Vince Carter).

BACK-TO-BACK
Tuesday’s game at Sacramento is the second of a back-to-back set against the Warriors and Kings. This season, the Lakers are 11-6 in the first game and 10-6 in the second game of back-to-backs. On the year, the Lakers will play 20 sets of back-to-back games, the most the team has played in a single season since playing 22 sets of back-to-backs during the 1999-00 campaign. Last year, the Lakers played 19 sets of back-to-backs, going 14-5 in the first game and 14-5 in the second as well. Charlotte, Detroit and Milwaukee lead the league with 23 back-to-backs each in 2009-10 while New Orleans (15) and San Antonio (17) will play the fewest sets this season.

THIRD TIME’S A CHARM...USUALLY
With consecutive losses 3/4 at Miami, 3/5 at Charlotte and 3/7 at Orlando, the Lakers suffered their FIRST three-game losing streak since January of 2008. Since the acquisition of Pau Gasol on February 1, 2008, the Lakers had yet to lose three consecutive games until dropping their March 7th contest at Orlando. With Gasol, the Lakers have only lost two-straight games 11 times overall (9 regular season, 2 playoff streaks) including their current 3-game skid. Of the 11 two-game losing streaks, the Lakers played the third game of the streak without Gasol four times, snapping two-game losing streaks with victories 3/18/08 at Dallas, 3/30/08 vs. Washington in overtime, 11/17/09 vs. Detroit and 1/10/10 vs. Milwaukee. Prior to their early March 3-game skid, the Lakers last three-game losing streak came just a week before the trade, with consecutive losses at San Antonio, at Dallas and vs. Cleveland from 1/23/08 through 1/27/08.
Additionally, the Lakers loss at Orlando marked the first time that Los Angeles has been swept on a three-game road trip since April of 2005 when they lost 4/2 at San Antonio (94-95), 4/3 at Memphis (82-102) and 4/5 at Phoenix (99-125). They did, however, go 0-4 on a four-game road trip in March of 2007, falling 3/4 at Phoenix (94-99), 3/6 at Minnesota (107-117 2OT), 3/7 at Milwaukee (90-110) and 3/9 at Philadelphia (92-108).
The last team to lose three straight regular season games and win a NBA Championship was the 2007-08 Boston Celtics, who suffered one 3-game losing streak in February of ‘08. The last Lakers team to lose three straight games and win a NBA Championship was the 2001-02 Lakers, who dropped three in a row in February of ‘02.

ARTEST POSTS FIVE OR MORE STEALS IN THREE CONSECUTIVE GAMES
With six steals 2/28 vs. Denver, five steals 3/2 vs. Indiana and five steals 3/4 at Miami, Ron Artest grabbed at least five steals in three consecutive games. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that’s the longest such streak for any NBA player since Chris Paul had a three-game streak for New Orleans in March 2009. The last NBA player to have five or more steals in four consecutive games was Baron Davis in 2003. Furthermore, the last Laker to post three consecutive games with five or more steals was Magic Johnson in March 1981. Johnson also holds the Lakers franchise record with four straight games with five or more steals in October 1980.

WORKING OVERTIME
The Lakers 111-114 overtime loss 3/4 at Miami was the team’s 5th overtime contest of the season. The Lakers are now 4-1 in overtime games this year after going 2-1 in three overtime games last season and 4-0 in four overtime games during the 2007-08 campaign. During the 2006-07 season, the Lakers’ 10 overtime contests established a new Los Angeles era record for overtime games in a single season. With their overtime loss at Miami, the Lakers all-time overtime record is now 131-90 (.593).