SACRAMENTO, Calif.: Dec. 25.

The Lakers won on the road for only the seventh time in 22 games.

The Kings started the second half with three quick 3-pointers, two during an 8-0 run that brought them back within a point, 63-62. Bryant then took over, scoring six straight.

The Lakers shot 56.8 percent in the first half, including 70 percent in the second quarter to take a 63-55 halftime lead.

Gerald Wallace gave Sacramento a big boost off the bench with 13 points.

Sacramento missed six straight shots and committed two turnovers during one stretch in the first quarter, allowing the Lakers to score 13 unanswered points, seven by Bryant, to take a 24-12 lead. The Kings shot 33 percent in the period and 38 percent for the half.< ^Notes:@ The Lakers were upset with a report in the Sacramento Bee that implied Bryant had been drunk before Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals here last year rather than sick from food poisoning. ``I considered it probably lighthearted journalism,'' coach Phil Jackson said. ``I'm sure they wouldn't want a libel suit against them for saying something that ridiculous. It's just a play on the situation of going back to last year's playoffs. I don't think there's any harmful intent.'' .... The Lakers went out to dinner and a comedy show as a team Thursday night after arriving in Sacramento. ``It seemed appropriate. It seemed like the right time to do something,'' Jackson said. ... Kings G Bobby Jackson, out the past month with a broken left hand, seems better. He swished about a dozen 3s in a row from the baseline before the game. He is expected to be back sometime after the All-Star break in mid-February. He rejoined the team Friday after a week's absence because of the death of his mother. ... San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds sat courtside. He received greetings from several players on both teams.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)