The beat goes on …

The Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings, 112-103, with more of the same inconsistent play that fans have grown accustomed to seeing of late. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 32 points and Pau Gasol had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Andrew Bynum fouled out with eight points and 10 rebounds.

Here’s Phil Jackson on the Lakers’ inability to put away the Kings until the final seconds: “I told them in the postgame that we found ways to keep this ballclub (the Kings) in the game, in the end of the first half, in the end of the third quarter, and at the end of the game. We did it through a variety of things. We missed foul shots. We gave up fouls at the end of the quarters. Let’s not take anything away from Sacramento, but we really kept them in the game.”

Gasol on the Lakers’ play: “I think it was a lot better. We were more consistent tonight. Defensively, our effort was better. We didn’t turn the ball over as much. We controlled the boards pretty good, and it was overall a much better game for us.”

Bryant on his two-handed dunk near the end of the game: “I rarely have the opportunity, because normally when I’m going through the paint I’m going through traffic I don’t really have the chance to use two hands. You’ve got to use one hand and try to turn your body, so it feels good to have one to just blow it all out.”

Bynum on his play and the play of the team: “We just had a lot more energy tonight, at least I tired a lot harder than I have in the past. I had six fouls. I can’t do anything about that. but we had a better effort out there defensively. If you look at the tape, you see a lot more guys helping each other out.”