Kings, Lakers to meet at T&M Saturday
Friday, Oct. 19, 2001 | 11:01 a.m.
WHAT: Preseason NBA exhibition game
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Thomas & Mack Center
TICKETS: About 800 tickets for $12, $19 and $27 are still available at the Thomas & Mack box office.
Even defending champions must play in meaningless exhibition games.
Before the Los Angeles Lakers begin their quest to become only the fifth team in history to win three consecutive NBA titles, they will play their fifth preseason game of the year at the Thomas & Mack Center Saturday at 7:30 p.m. against the Sacramento Kings.
Already, it seems basketball-hungry fans are eagerly awaiting the matchup between the Western Conference rivals.
"Tickets are selling very, very well," Thomas & Mack Center director Darren Libonati said. "We are very pleased with the turnout so far.
"The Lakers have always been a great team for us in Las Vegas. And the Lakers' fans from L.A. love to come see them here as well. The Lakers have a lot of fans here."
The last time these teams met was last May in the Western Conference semifinals, when the Lakers swept the Kings 4-0.
Both teams have significant injuries.
The Kings will be without All-Star forward Chris Webber. The 6-foot-10, 250-pound Webber sprained his left ankle in an exhibition game against Dallas and will be out for at least a month.
For the Lakers, All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal, who had toe surgery Aug. 29 and played limited minutes against Golden State, will probably play against the Kings. Point guard Derek Fisher had foot surgery and is not scheduled to be back until November.
Laker fans will still get to see Kobe Bryant, Rick Fox and Robert Horry, and get a look at newly acquired point guard Lindsey Hunter, as well as new additions Mitch Richmond and Samaki Walker.
Kings fans can look forward to seeing point guard Mike Bibby, who was traded to the Kings from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Jason Williams, Predrag Stojakovic, Vlade Divac and Doug Christie (among others).
The Lakers were 56-26 last season and went on to set the record for the best record in the playoffs (15-1). They open the regular season Oct. 30 at home against the Portland Trail Blazers, while the Kings, who were 55-27, host Seattle.
"Being that there is not an NBA team here, we're ecstatic to have the Lakers here year in and year out," Libonati said. "I think the fans get to appreciate the up close and personal play of the team.
"There's really not a bad seat in our venue."
Next year, the Lakers will play the Phoenix Suns at the Thomas & Mack Center Oct. 19.
Libonati said the game will be the final one of the Lakers' three-year agreement with the Thomas & Mack, but he expects the parties will reach another three-year deal after next year's game.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Wonder drug for men no success story
- CityCenter: One man’s concept of a real city
- Man, 18, arrested for DUI in crash that kills woman, 24
- Notebook: UNLV prospect Polee likes what he sees, and hears, at the Mack
- Bellfield tolls again for UNLV in 76-71 win over Louisville
- Man fatally shot during robbery attempt of woman
- Bishop Gorman crushes Reed to head to state championship
- Pitino doesn’t consider loss to UNLV a total loss
- The ball’s in Reid’s court: Passing the public option
- Palin has a way of bringing out the anger in people
Blogs
Elsewhere
LV woman robs Kentucky strip club, police say (1 Comment)
Las Vegas Sands' Hong Kong IPO flops
The Kats Report
Monday List: Top 13 Moments and Observations From Thanksgiving Weekend (1 Comment)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Tarkanian: Reid is liberal, out of touch, rude, poisonously partisan and a know-it-all (1 Comment)
The Kats Report
Barry Manilow off to Paris: Two-year deal starts March 5 at Le Theatre des Arts (2 Comments)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Ensign survives radio interview with no follow-ups; partial transcript below (2 Comments)
Now and Then
Battle of I-74 settled 1,700 miles from home
Calendar »
- 30 Mon
- 1 Tue
- 2 Wed
- 3 Thu
- 4 Fri
-
DJ showdown at Prive
Prive | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Rok Box with Mike Carbonell at Tabu
Tabú Ultralounge | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
DJ Riz at Jet
Jet | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Football specials at Diablo's
Diablos Cantina
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati









