SACRAMENTO, May 13 -- Kobe Bryant had playoff career highs of 48 points and 16 rebounds Sunday as the Los Angeles Lakers completed their second straight sweep and earned a spot in the Western Conference finals with a 119-113 victory over the Sacramento Kings, who may have seen Chris Webber for the last time.
Bryant made 15 of 29 shots and 17 of 19 free throws, continuing to pick up the slack for Shaquille O'Neal. He scored 26 of his 36 points in the second half of Game 3 and picked up Sunday where he left off Friday night.
With O'Neal on the bench in foul trouble for most of the final period, the Lakers needed Bryant to take charge. He scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, finding the right balance of when to shoot the ball and when to share it.
The performance was reminiscent of Game 4 of the 2000 NBA Finals, when Bryant took control after O'Neal fouled out and led the Lakers to an overtime victory at Indiana.
Last year, Los Angeles dropped eight games en route to its 12th title, including two in the first round to the Kings. The Lakers began defense of the championship with a three-game sweep of Portland and quickly sent Sacramento packing.
O'Neal collected 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who are peaking at the right time. They have won 15 straight games since April 1 as they await the winner of the other semifinal -- most likely the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs.
While the Lakers move on, the Kings are unsure of their next move. This was their third straight postseason appearance with a team built around Webber, who becomes a free agent July 1 and is expected to head elsewhere.
In perhaps his final game with the Kings, Webber had 21 points and 11 rebounds. The All-Star power forward made just eight of 25 shots.
Derek Fisher continued his solid postseason with 20 points and Robert Horry added 11 and a huge block down the stretch for the Lakers, who went 4-0 in Arco Arena this season. Los Angeles shot 50 percent and made 35 of 44 free throws.
Peja Stojakovic scored 26 points and rookie Hidayet Turkoglu added 22 off the bench for the Kings, who shot 46 percent and made 30 of 32 from the line. Before the sweep, Sacramento had not lost more than three in a row all season.
The Kings took an 84-80 lead into the final period, but Bryant scored to start a 9-0 run. O'Neal added a basket and two free throws and Horry made a three-pointer for an 89-84 bulge with 10:01 remaining.
O'Neal left with his fifth foul with 7:22 to go and the Lakers holding a 94-88 lead. Divac made four free throws as Bryant missed a pair of jumpers, but he settled down with a layup and a jumper for a three-point play and a 101-94 lead with 4:53 left.
O'Neal returned at the four-minute mark and Brian Shaw and Turkoglu traded three-pointers before O'Neal fouled out with 3:09 remaining. Turkoglu had a drive and two free throws to make it 108-107 with 1:57 to go.
Bryant drew a foul but split the free throws. Turkoglu drove for a potential tying dunk, but Horry swatted it from behind and Bryant spun for a jumper at the other end and a 111-107 lead with 1:21 left.
After a turnover by Doug Christie, the Lakers hit eight of 10 from the line in the final minute, including three by Bryant.
Divac had 18 points and 10 boards and Christie scored 15 points for the Kings, who did a good job of containing O'Neal early but were unable to harness Bryant, who averaged 35 points in the series.
