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As negotiations with Phil Jackson continue, the Lakers return to action this evening at Staples Center under the "just let em play" stylings of Bernie Bickerstaff. The opponent is even weaker than the Golden State team they throttled on Friday night. The Sacramento Kings are just 2-4 and have yet to win in three tries on the road. Their only victories are against the Warriors and the Pistons, which - come to think of it - is true of the Lakers as well.
Suspensions have damaged the Kings' frontline depth. Thomas Robinson is serving the second game of his two-game suspension for elbowing Jonas Jerebko last week, and this afternoon the NBA announced a two-game suspension of DeMarcus Cousins for beefing with Spurs announcer Sean Elliott after the teams played in Sacramento Friday night. Which leaves Dwight and Pau to operate against... Chuck Hayes and Jason Thompson? Enjoy yourselves out there, fellas.