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Kobe Bryant Has Milestones In Sight Tonight In Sacramento

The Los Angeles Lakers look to stay unbeaten tonight, as they travel north to Sacramento to battle the Kings. The Lakers have won their last six meetings, and nine of their last 10 with Sacramento, including winning the last three at Arco Arena. The Lakers are 7-1 in their last eight games in the state capital.

Kobe Bryant needed just 28 minutes last night to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the all-time franchise lead in minutes played, but thanks to the Lakers' 124-105 blowout of the Grizzlies Bryant only played 26 minutes. Bryant will pass Abdul-Jabbar in the first quarter tonight. Here is an updated look at the Lakers' all-time leaders in minutes played:

Player Minutes
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 37,492
Kobe Bryant 37,491
Jerry West 36,571
Elgin Baylor 33,863
Magic Johnson 33,245
James Worthy 30,001

In addition, Bryant now has made 9,004 field goals in his career, just 12 behind Jerry West for second place on the franchise list. Abdul-Jabbar leads in that category as well, with 9,935 field goals made as a Laker.

Tonight is the second game in as many nights for the Lakers, the first of 15 back-to-back sets of games this season for the defending champs. The Lakers play the fewest back-to-back sets in the NBA this season, after having 20 such sets last season.

Pau Gasol, who won Western Conference Player of the Week honors on Monday, is leading the club in points (24.3 per game), assists (five per game), and blocked shots (1.5 per game), while also averaging 11.0 rebounds per game.

The Kings opened their season going 2-1 on a three-game road trip, then defeated the Nets on Monday in their home opener. Sacramento rallied from a 17-point deficit to defeat New Jersey, 111-108. Reigning rookie of the year Tyreke Evans is leading the Kings in scoring (20.3 per game), assists (6.0 per game) and steals (1.33 per game), and is also averaging 6.0 rebounds per contest.

Tonight's 7:30 p.m. PDT game will be televised on KCAL and ESPN.

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