When the Kings retired the jerseys of Chris Webber and Vlade Divac earlier this season, it was a trip down memory lane for a team that isn't making many fond memories anymore.
But their archrivals from the old days, the Lakers, have transitioned into a new era of success that will lead them into Arco Arena on Tuesday. With five games to go, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers trail Cleveland by one game in the race for the best record in the league. The Cavaliers have five games left as well, with the reward of home-court advantage edge crucial to the Eastern Conference leaders considering they have been easily beaten by the Lakers in both of their meetings this season.
Thus, the Lakers won't lack for motivation when they face the Kings.
That wasn't the case on Dec. 9, when the Kings, with Reggie Theus still the coach, pulled an upset over the Lakers at Arco Arena. The Lakers won the other two meetings.
GOLDEN STATE 105, KINGS 100: The Warriors didn't need Monta Ellis to beat the Kings, not to mention Stephen Jackson, Corey Maggette and Andris Biedrins. With seven players in all, Golden State held on against a Kings team playing without shooting guard Kevin Martin for the second straight game.
Small forward Kelenna Azubuike had 30 points to go with a career-high 15 rebounds, as the Warriors won despite shooting just 37.4 percent.
