Since Head didn't get his shot until the fourth, Kobe ended up with a brilliant line: 30 points on 9-22 floor, 3-6 threes, 9-10 line, with 10 rebounds, 12 assists and just one turnover. He was, as he is in so many games against the Kings and, well, everyone else, the difference.

Sacramento wasn't perfect on offense, either. Cousins shot just 3-13, missing two spot-up threes (plus an attempted buzzer-beater) in the process. It's unfortunate DMC floated out that far late in the game considering how well he assaulted Pau in the early going down on the block. Casspi also had a rough night on offense, hitting just 1-5 in 22 minutes. His playing time, however, was short for two reasons: he couldn't do anything with Kobe, he couldn't do anything with Artest, and Francisco Garcia was (again) paying out of his mind on offense.

Evans had an ankle scare after a first quarter-ending collision with Odom; he came back to score 15 more points for a total of 21. He hit one long jumper, but missed both threes (including one that could have cut the deficit to five midway through the fourth) and lived on the dribble-drive. The Kings were awful from long-range as a team (Garcia was 3-6, the rest of the team 3-16), and when that happens, Evans' assist totals fall off the table. He had just two in 29 minutes. (Why the short minutes? Foul trouble. Kobe got him rang up time after time. Evans had five late in the third.)

***

Jim Gray didn't work the game for Comcast, and I noticed Heather Cox on media row, so I assume Jim Gray didn't work the game for ESPN. (Correct me if I'm wrong, as I didn't watch the ESPN telecast.) Of all games for Jim Gray not to work, the Lakers' first visit is an odd choice. I bet the team's last sideline reporter wouldn't have had a scheduling conflict. And it would have been cool to get an injury update on Evans a bit before he re-entered the game. That's what sideline reporters are for.