The visiting Sacramento Kings have stunned the two-time defending National Basketball Association champion Los Angeles Lakers, 103-90, to take their second straight game in the semi-final playoff series.
The Kings outscored the Lakers 32-15 Friday in the opening quarter on the way to a 27-point lead. The Lakers launched a late comeback to pull within 10 points, but still fell short.
Chris Webber led the way with 26 points and nine rebounds, while his Kings teammate, Mike Bibby, netted 24 points.
Sacramento now has a two-games-to-one lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals, with game four coming up Sunday, again in Los Angeles. Game five is on Tuesday in Sacramento.
The Lakers' loss was just the fourth in their last 28 playoff games. Kobe Bryant scored 16 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, when Los Angeles scored 14 points in 53 seconds during a 27-12 run. Still, the Lakers played flat, with the exception of Shaquille O'Neal, who finished with 20 points and 19 rebounds.
The Eastern Conference finals move to Boston Saturday. The Celtics and the New Jersey Nets are tied with one victory apiece.