Lakers even record at 7-7 with a 100-86 victory over Kings

Lakers 100, Sacramento Kings 86 (final)

The Lakers improved to .500 with a 100-86 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night at Staples Center.

Winning their third game in a row, the Lakers kept pace with last year’s team with a 7-7 start, despite playing without Kobe Bryant (Achilles’ tendon) and Dwight Howard (signed with the Houston Rockets).

Lakers forward Xavier Henry had a big night off the bench with 21 points to lead all scorers. Pau Gasol added 20 and pulled down 10 rebounds.

Lakers big man Jordan Hill also notched a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds while Steve Blake was one point shor, finishing with nine points and 12 assists.

The Kings were led by guard Greivis Vasquez, who had 20 points and seven assists. Center DeMarcus Cousins neared a triple-double with 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Sacramento shot 41.7% from the field and had 14 turnovers. The Lakers made 46% of their shots and had only 10 turnovers.

The Lakers play their next three games on the road in a four-night stretch, beginning Tuesday in Washington against the Wizards.

The Kings are off until Friday, when they’ll host the Clippers.

Lakers 73, Kings 61 (end of third quarter)

The Lakers scored 10 unanswered points to end the third quarter, extending a two-point lead to 12.

Pau Gasol leads the Lakers with 18 points. Jodie Meeks has 14 and Steve Blake is now one point shy of a double-double with 11 assists.

Guard Greivis Vasquez leads the Kings, who are shooting 41.9% from the field, with 18 points. Center DeMarcus Cousins has 13.

The Lakers are shooting 44.8% from the field but only 25% from three-point range.

Lakers 55, Kings 48 (halftime)

Steve Blake’s layup with less than a second left in the second quarter gave the Lakers a seven-point halftime lead.

The Lakers had extended the lead to 13 points but the Kings fought to get the deficit down to single digits.

Blake is nearing a triple-double with seven points, seven assists and five rebounds in 16 minutes in the first half.

Pau Gasol has 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting to lead the Lakers, who are shooting 46.7% from the field.

Sacramento guard Greivis Vasquez is the leading scorer with 15 points. DeMarcus Cousins has 10 for the Kings, who are shooting 50% from the field.

Lakers 29, Kings 24 (end of first quarter)

The Lakers closed out the first quarter against the Kings with a five-point lead, their biggest of the game.

Pau Gasol leads the Lakers with nine points on 3-of-4 shooting. Steve Blake contributed five points, four rebounds and four assists in 10 minutes.

The Lakers shot 50.0% from the field. The Kings shot 45.5% from the field.

Sacramento guard Greivis Vasquez hit his six consecutive shots before missing and leads all scorers with 13 points.

Pregame

The Lakers (6-7) host the Sacramento Kings (4-8) on Sunday evening at Staples Center.

A win would give the Lakers their first perfect week of the season (2-0) and a .500 record.

The Kings are coming off a difficult loss on Saturday to the Clippers.

The Lakers are expected to be without Kobe Bryant (Achilles’ tendon), Steve Nash (back) and Chris Kaman (back).

For a more in-depth breakdown, check out Preview: Lakers vs. Kings.

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Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.