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Kobe Bryant scores two over Luther Head.

The Lakers’ longest losing streak in 2 1/2 years is over. Back at home on Friday, the Lakers made short work of the Sacramento Kings in their easiest win of the season, 113-80, ending a four-game skid.

The champs came out focused from the start, and played strong defense from the opening tip to the final horn.  They shot 56.6% from the field, and held the Kings to just 40.3%, including 5-16 (31.3%) from the three-point line.  All stats were a vast improvement over what had been happening at both ends of the court during the losing streak.

Kobe Bryant was the game’s leading scorer with 22 points, and got to be a spectator the entire fourth quarter during the Lakers’ largest blow out of the season. He played a little over 26 minutes for the night.

Pau Gasol, playing despite a sore left hamstring, scored 16 points, with five rebounds, five assists, and three blocks in under 27 minutes.  It was also a welcomed, short evening for Gasol, who has logged heavy minutes in recent games as the Lakers continue to try to get by without Andrew Bynum and Theo Ratliff. 

Lamar Odom added 16 points and seven rebounds, and the Lakers’ bench, led by Shannon Brown’s 14 points, outscored the Sacramento bench 52-37.

The Kings kept the game close for most of the first quarter and trailed only 21-16 after the first 12 minutes.  But the Lakers took over from there, leading  52-35 at the break, and by as much as 35 in the fourth quarter en route to the 33-point win.  The 80 points were also a season-low for a Laker opponent.

Jason Thompson led the Kings with 19 points and 10 rebounds, although most of his damage was done when the game was well out of hand in the second half. Tyreke Evans had 15 points, but continues to struggle with his shot, hitting just 5-15 from the field.

A game against the struggling Kings was just what the doctor ordered for the Lakers, as they will head out on a six game road trip beginning next week, and are in desperate need of a positive swing of momentum before the two-week marathon.

The Lakers next game is Tuesday night at Staples Center against another stuggling team, the Washington Wizards, who do boast one of the league’s most-exciting rookies, and the number one pick in the draft, John Wall.

Link: Lakers vs. Kings Box Score