NBA: LA Lakers 115, Sacramento 107

LOS ANGELES, March 3 (UPI) -- Kobe Bryant scored 38 points Friday and was the key to a strong third quarter that vaulted the Los Angeles Lakers to a 115-107 win over Sacramento.

The Lakers won for the fourth time in five games while shooting 54 percent from the field.

The Los Angeles halftime lead was only seven, but the Lakers held the Kings to 16 points in the third period while blowing the game open.

Sacramento trailed by 18 early in the fourth quarter and could come no closer than the final eight-point margin.

Bryant made 13-of-23 from the field and hit 11-of-14 free throws. Andrew Bynum added 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Lakers while Pau Gasol had 15 points.

Francisco Garcia came off the bench to score 18 for the Kings.