Lakers Vs. Kings: Kobe Bryant, L.A. Look To Silence Sacramento

The last game the Kings played in Sacramento -- back in April -- came against the L.A. Lakers. The Kings fought hard and nearly pulled out a victory, but Kobe Bryant nailed a three in the waning seconds to send the contest to overtime, where L.A. prevailed. But the action on the court was a secondary narrative as the game appeared to have been the final in Sacramento for the Kings ... ever.

At the time, it seemed to be a done deal that the team would be moving to Anaheim. But Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson -- a former All-NBA point guard -- convinced the NBA Board of Governors in the days following that loss to the Lakers to give the city another year to find an arena plan. The NBA lockout very well could have sucked up that year, but a deal in late November let Sacramento fans be sure they'd see another game or 33.

As such, expect the crowd at Power Balance Pavilion to be even more raucous than usual, which is saying something, because games against the Lakers are always packed and ear-bursting. That's what a wounded Kobe Bryant -- he's dealing with a torn ligament in his right wrist -- and his 0-1 Lakers team face. Knowing Kobe and his history in Sacramento, he'd love nothing more than to silence the crowd and even up his team's record.

NBA TV will carry the game live at 10 p.m. ET.

For more on the Kings, visit Sactown Royalty. For more on the Lakers, visit Silver Screen And Roll.