LOS ANGELES _ Sacramento Kings coach Dave Joerger spoke for 86 seconds during his pregame news conference. The NBA mandates that head coaches be available for 15 minutes before every game, but the questions had run out.
"I can give you some more stuff," Joerger said playfully after no questions followed a pause. "I mean, it's sunny out, it's spring, it smells like March Madness, Lent and NBA playoffs. Get the seeding, get it done. Exciting times. Nothing else?"
He left singing a few bars of Randy Newman's "I Love L.A."
The Lakers (32-41) got to hear much more of the song a few hours later when they beat the Kings 111-106. Sunday's win broke a five-game losing streak in their first game since officially being eliminated from the playoffs. While the Kings (36-37) aren't technically out yet, they're 6 { games out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.
LeBron James notched his eighth triple-double of the season with 29 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists and made all six free throws he attempted in the final 38 seconds.
The Lakers played without Lonzo Ball (ankle sprain), Brandon Ingram (blood clot), Josh Hart (tendinitis) Mike Muscala (tendinitis) and Reggie Bullock (plantar fasciitis).
And while little was at stake in the grand scheme of things, there were small moments for the players who did play to celebrate.
Kyle Kuzma got hot in the third quarter and scored 21 of his 29 points on seven-for-eight shooting. That period helped the Lakers open a 17-point lead and take control of the game.
Scott Machado got his first NBA playing time in the third quarter, entering the game to enthusiastic cheers from the Laker Girls. The 28-year-old point guard from Iona was signed to a 10-day contract Thursday.
Even the Lakers' entertainment had its moment. Between the third and fourth quarters, a fan named Justin Jimenez made a half-court shot to win $45,000. He was the third fan to win that contest in the last month. The first won $100,000 and the second won $25,000 only a game later.
It hasn't been a kind month for the Lakers. Since that first half-court shot winner, they've won only three games, and they'd faded from contention by losing 10 of their first 11 games in March.
Despite Kuzma's third-quarter heroics and James' inspired passing and impressive numbers, the Kings fought back in the fourth quarter. The Lakers had two possessions end with shot-clock violations in the final two minutes while holding just a four-point lead, but James kept the Kings at bay from the line.
