Lakers Build Big Lead, Hold On To Beat Kings, 98-95

Las Vegas, NV (Sports Network) - Pau Gasol scored 18 points and pulled down 12 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers held off Sacramento, 98-95, for their first preseason victory.

Ron Artest also scored 18 and Shannon Brown totaled 17 for the Lakers, who nearly blew a 17-point lead in the final quarter in the game played at the Thomas and Mack Center.

Kobe Bryant struggled to 2-of-10 shooting for seven points in nearly 19 minutes of court time for the defending NBA champions.

Carl Landry posted 23 points and eight rebounds for the Kings, while DeMarcus Cousins ended with 14 points and 10 boards.

A dunk by Cousins had the Kings within three points with 15.5 seconds left, and the door was opened for Sacramento after Derrick Caracter missed a pair of foul shots with 6.1 seconds left. However, Antoine Wright was whistled for traveling in the final two seconds.

Lakers Vs. Kings: Projected Lineup & Injury Report

Here's tonight's projected starting lineup for the Los Angeles Lakers as they meet the Sacramento Kings at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV.

C Pau Gasol
F Lamar Odom
F Ron Artest
G Derek Fisher
G Kobe Bryant

Bryant, as mentioned earlier, will play in eight-minute stretches to rest his surgically repaired knee. Andrew Bynum is out due to his own right knee surgery, and Luke Walton is listed as doubtful with a right hamstring strain.

Quickie Preview: Lakers Vs. Kings In Las Vegas

The Lakers and Kings clash in preseason NBA action tonight at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. For you poor multitudes not in town trailing players through casinos, catch the broadcast at 7:00 p.m. PDT on KCAL.

The Lakers are winless in the preseason thus far, but have a favorable history against the Kings: Los Angeles swept 4-0 last season, and only lost once in their '08-'09 regular-season series with Sacramento. The two teams last met in April, where the Lakers won 106-100.

As for what to expect tonight: More No. 24 (rejoice!). Phil Jackson intends to play Kobe Bryant for eight-minute segments in two quarters as he continues his surgical comeback.

For more Lakers news and analysis, visit SB Nation's Silver Screen and Roll.

Kobe Bryant: 2010-2011 Player Preview (From Silver Screen And Roll)

As Kobe Bryant prepares to play his 15th NBA season -- stop me if you feel old after reading that -- he is battling all sorts of injuries. There are all those miles on his 32-year-old legs, there was the finger injury that will probably never fully be back to normal, and of course there was offseason knee surgery that Bryant is still recovering from.

Yet, there is hope that a summer of relative rest -- Kobe didn't play for Team USA, after all -- the Lakers will have a well-rested Bryant later in the season and as they make a run at a third straight NBA championship. Today, Dexter Fishmore concluded the phenomenal player preview series at Silver Screen and Roll with a look forward to Bryant's 2010-2011 season:

What will change, however, is his health. We saw the beginning of this process last season, played by Kobe at age 31. After he got off to a rocking, MVP-caliber start, Kobe's body decided to spit parts. Both his right knee and right hand got knocked around a bit, and although he still managed to perform at a high level, the injuries took an impossible-to-ignore toll. His turnovers jumped and his outside shooting fell off. He remained an awesome force on offense and a superlative defender, but there were some ugly shooting games along the way. The decline in his personal offensive efficiency was one of several factors contributing to the team's struggles on offense. (In 2008-09, the Lakers scored 114.5 points per 100 possessions, good for third in the league. Last season that mark dropped to 110.4, only 11th in the league.)

What We Expect: A season at least as productive as the last one. At the moment, Kobe isn't at anything close to full strength - Phil says that he's "decidedly not yet ready to play" - and the days of him appearing in 82 games a year are probably over. But a summer spent away from basketball should pay dividends come May and June. One hopes Kobe's learned that sitting out a game here and there won't sink the team in the short run and will strengthen it in the long run. I don't expect him to win the regular-season MVP award, but I do think we'll see him recover some of the efficiency he lost last season and treat us to yet another sterling, first-team All-NBA campaign.

Here are some Lakers franchise milestones that Bryant could reach this season:

• Points: 25,790 (already the franchise leader)
• Games: 1,021 (2nd place; needs 73 games to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
• Minutes: 37,366 (2nd place; needs 137 minutes to pass Abdul-Jabbar)
• Field Goal Attempts: 19,731 (2nd place; needs 441 to pass Elgin Baylor)

Bryant, who is still recovering from that offseason knee surgery, is expected to play roughly 16 minutes, perhaps slightly more, tomorrow night in Las Vegas against the Sacramento Kings.

Kobe Bryant Feeling Better, Ready To Play As Lakers Head To Las Vegas

Kobe Bryant, who has been recovering slowly from right knee surgery during training camp, had a productive day of practice today, in preparation of Wednesday's game in Las Vegas between the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings.

Mike Trudell of Lakers.com reported Bryant shot and worked out on his own, then joined the team halfway through practice. Trudell also noted that coach Phil Jackson has a playing time plan in place for Bryant:

Jackson detailed his plan for Bryant, suggesting that he’s going to play No. 24 in eight-minute segments in the first and third quarters.

Jackson did leave the door open for additional playing time late in the game if Bryant feels up to it, and depending upon the game’s circumstances.

Bryant played a total of 31 minutes in the Lakers' two games in Europe, totaling 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists. He has made just two of 18 field goal attempts this preseason, including 0-for-8 on three-pointers.

Wednesday's game, which will be played at 7:00 p.m. PDT at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, will be televised on KCAL.

For more Lakers news and information, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Silver Screen and Roll.