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The Los Angeles Lakers lost their preseason finale in San Diego Thursday, falling to the Sacramento Kings, 94-82. The loss gave the Lakers an 0-8 record to finish the preseason.
The Lakers were playing without Kobe Bryant, who stayed in Los Angeles nursing a foot injury that might keep him out of the team's season opener. Dwight Howard's second preseason game didn't go as smoothly as his first as he tallied just nine points and eight rebounds in 24 minutes of action. Steve Nash tallied only 15 minutes of action. Pau Gasol played the most of any starter, scoring seven points in 29 minutes of play.
The Lakers struggled to get going early, getting outscored 30-18 in the first quarter. The team bounced back -- thanks mostly to the Laker bench -- and was trailing by just one at halftime. Jordan Hill paced the second unit, scoring nine points, pulled down nine rebounds and had five assists.
The Kings came out of halftime on fire, scoring 34 points in the third quarter, taking a 17 point lead going in to the fourth quarter and never looking back. Howard struggled to stay out of foul trouble, picking up five fouls as he continues to adjust to his new teammates and new defensive scheme. The Lakers now get five days off before hosting the Dallas Mavericks Tuesday night.