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.