FRESNO, United States (AFP) - Caron Butler scored 18 points as the Los Angeles Lakers rallied for a 105-80 NBA exhibition win over road-weary Sacramento, who were playing their first game since returning from China.
Butler was 8-of-15 from the floor and also had six rebounds. Butler was part of the Lakers blockbuster deal that sent giant centre Shaquille O'Neal to Miami.
O'Neal's rival Kobe Bryant had four turnovers and scored just 10 points on Tuesday.
Butler scored 10 points in the second half for Los Angeles, which outscored Sacramento 59-36 in the second half after leading by just two at halftime.
Taking the spot of former Sacramento centre Vlade Divac, Chris Mihm, who was part of the deal that sent Gary Payton to Boston, shot 6-of-9 and also was 5-of-7 from the foul line in 24 minutes for the Lakers.
Besides Divac, the Lakers were also without Devean George, Luke Walton, Slava Medvedenko and Kareem Rush.
Darius Songaila and Anwar Ferguson each scored 10 apiece for Sacramento, which shot 39.8 percent.
The Kings did not get much out of their starters, who played a combined 63 minutes and scored 25 points, with Brad Miller's seven leading the way.