Lakers Preseason Schedule Ends with Eighth Consecutive Loss to Kings, 94-92; NBA Preseason Game Scores Around the League for Oct. 25

Even with a bevy of superstar talent, the Los Angeles Lakers couldn't catch a break this preseason.

The Sacramento Kings (5-2) put the finishing touch on a dismal preseason for the winless Lakers (0-8) beating them 94-82 on Thursday at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif.

Starting center Dwight Howard played his second preseason game for the Lakers while Kobe Bryant sat out with a bruised and strained right foot. Bryant is questionable for the season opener Tuesday against Dallas.

As the Associated Press noted, no team that has gone winless in the preseason has ever made the NBA Finals.

As many as five Kings players scored in double figures Thursday night as the Kings led by as much as 23 points in the second half. Isaiah Thomas and DeMarcus Cousins each had 20 points to lead Sacramento in scoring, while point guard Tyreke Evans put up 14 points, power forward Jason Thompson scored 12 points and shooting guard Marcus Thorton finished the night with 10 points.

Small Forward Devin Ebanks led Los Angeles with 14 points, while Howard finished with nine points and eight rebounds.

Around the League: NBA preseason wrap-up for Thursday, Oct. 25

Clippers: 106, Nuggets: 94

Blake Griffin capped off the end of the Los Angeles Clippers' preseason in style, finishing with 25 points and 11 rebounds as the Clippers (5-3) beat the Denver Nuggets (3-3) 106-94 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo.

The Clippers took control of the game in the third quarter thanks in part to a 9-0 run, thanks to a bank shot by Griffin and a three-pointer by superstar point guard Chris Paul, who returned to the lineup after colliding with a teammate in practice to score 10 points with 12 assists. Los Angeles was in the driver's seat from there and took a 93-75 lead into the final quarter of the game.

For the Clippers, small forward Caron Butler put up 16 points and shooting guard Jamal Crawford scored 14 points. On the Denver side, small forward Corey Brewer led the Nuggets with 15 points while centers JaVale McGee and Kosta Koufos each finished with 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Jazz: 97, Trail Blazers: 91

A strong head start in the fourth quarter helped the Utah Jazz (5-3) beat the Portland Trail Blazers (3-4) 97-91 at the Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.

While Portland led 47-45 at halftime, the Jazz went off on an 8-0 run to open an 85-78 lead in the fourth quarter.

Center Enes Kanter continued his solid preseason play with 21 points for the Jazz, while Utah power forward Derrick Favors matched him with 21 points of his own.

Shooting guard Wesley Matthews led the Blazers with 24 points while star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge put up a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Speaking on the loss, highly touted Portland rookie point guard Damian Lillard-who finished the night with 12 points and five assists-noted that the Jazz, who were playing Portland for the second night in a row, seemed much better prepared than they were when the Blazers beat them on Monday.

"It's always tough against a team two times in a row," Lillard told the Associated Press. "They came out, they played physical, they were active and they made plays that we didn't. As for me, I missed some good looks and probably could have taken better care of the ball. But they played a great game."

Bucks: 100, Bobcats: 90

A late game offensive burst powered the Milwaukee Bucks (3-4) past the Charlotte Bobcats (1-6) 100-90 at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C.

Behind small forward Tobias Harris's team-high 18 points and 10 of rookie shooting guard Doron Lamb's 12 points in the fourth quarter, the Bucks outscored Charlotte 28-11 in the closing quarter of the game, the Associated Press reported.

Point guard Kemba Walker led the Bobcats with 20 points and seven assists while shooting guard Gerald Henderson scored 13 points, Rookie prospect Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had an off-night for Charlotte, scoring only four points in 13 minutes.

Milwaukee hosts the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, while the Bobcats finish out the preseason when they travel to Dallas to play the Mavericks.