(Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Lakers try to maintain their grasp on the top spot in the Western Conference when Kobe Bryant and company host the reeling Sacramento Kings tonight at the Staples Center.

Los Angeles presently holds a one-half edge on San Antonio for the best record in the West and enters this evening's matchup on a four-game win streak. The Lakers have also ripped off six consecutive victories at home and are a strong 22-7 as the host this season.

The Lakers continued their stellar recent play with Friday's 119-82 rout of the crosstown rival Clippers. Derek Fisher led a balanced scoring attack with 17 points as the Lakers recorded their 13th win in their last 14 outings.

Bryant scored 16 points and seven Laker players scored in double figures on the evening. Pau Gasol registered a double-double in the win, with the standout center compiling 10 points and 11 rebounds.

The Kings come in having lost three straight contests, a slide that began with a 117-105 setback to the Lakers in Sacramento this past Tuesday. Bryant racked up 34 points and 10 rebounds in that game, while Gasol put up 31 points while also grabbing 10 boards.

Sacramento's latest defeat was a 111-103 home loss to road-challenged Minnesota on Friday. The Kings fell despite a career-high 48-point night out of guard Kevin Martin.

Martin also set a club record by making 22 free throws in 24 attempts on Friday and has averaged 31.3 points over his last four games. The sharp- shooting 25-year-old had 23 points in Wednesday's loss to the Lakers.

The Kings played Friday without Ron Artest for a second straight contest because of a sore right foot. The controversial forward is expected to be available for tonight's test, however.

Sacramento is also mired in a five-game road losing streak and is a woeful 9-23 away from home for the year.

Wednesday's meeting was the first encounter between the Lakers and Kings this season. Los Angeles has three straight and five of the last six clashes between the Pacific Division foes.