And so the next question: Has a new standard been set?

"I think so," John Salmons said after the Kings' practice Wednesday. "That's one of the first things coach (Reggie Theus) said. We can play like that every night."

Weighty questions for one win, but no one at the Kings' practice facility downplayed Tuesday's 113-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. After all, the win came against one of the NBA's hottest teams.

And then there was the timing.

The Kings' confidence was shrinking in the face of an eight-game home and overall losing streak, and frustrated reserves appeared ready to boil over. But, by all appearances Wednesday, harmony was restored.

"Winning cures everything," said Salmons, who scored a team-high-tying 21 points against the Lakers. "Hopefully, we can realize how good winning feels and continue to want that feeling."

The Kings became the first Western Conference team to defeat the Lakers and pinned them with their largest loss of the season. Collectively, the Kings forced the Lakers to the drawing board, with leader Kobe Bryant calling for his team to "get back to basics." That should be enough to allow Theus at least one night's rest after admitting to fitful sleep lately.

"Not really, to be honest with you," said Theus, who is well aware of his uncertain job status. "It's uplifting for us as a unit, but it also says this is what we have to do -- this is how we have to play in order to be successful."

Establishing Tuesday's effort as the standard is a daunting task for Theus, who admitted he wasn't quite sure what sparked such a turnaround from the Kings' 118-85 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. However, he noted the Kings on Sunday had a team meeting, which players said was productive.

"We ended the conversation with, 'None of this matters if you guys don't come out on the court and put it to use,' " Theus said. "And they did that."

Theus was able to rest his voice after the nonstop yelling that should have left him hoarse Saturday, especially after the "Wake up!" demands just two minutes into that rout.

"I didn't say anything different than I had been saying," Theus said. "I just think by having some practice time and being able to talk to the guys and emphasize different things and the conversation in the locker room the other day, I just think they came out with a focus."

That focus showed in the Kings' ball movement, which was as good as it has been all season. When it came time to show film of the Lakers game before practice Wednesday, Theus said ball movement was the highlight.

"I showed 10 clips of us never putting the ball on the floor and just swinging," Theus said. "And John, who probably more than anybody puts it on the floor, I thought played very, very good team Basketball and allowed the game to come to him."

Kings' NEXT GAME FRIDAY AT L.A. Lakers Time: 7:30 p.m. TV: Ch. 10.

Call The Bee's Melody Gutierrez, (916) 326-5521. To get breaking news alerts and game scores sent to your phone, text Kings to 72737.