Each NBA game is a test.

 Some teams test for greatness; others search for legitimacy. 

The Kings take legitimacy test No. 2 tonight when they host the defending world champion Los Angeles Lakers at Arco Arena. 

They lost their first test when they went up against Cleveland at home in the first of a four-game homestand. They now face the Lakers before meeting Denver on Monday and Philadelphia on Wednesday. 

Tonight's game is another opportunity for the Kings (13-15) to show they can consistently compete with the league's best. Sacramento lost to the Cavs, but certainly showed the ability to go head-to-head with one of the league's best teams. 

Christmas day, the Lakers got spanked 102-87 at home by the Cavs. Los Angeles is now tied with the Boston Celtics for the NBA's best record at 23-5. 

Meanwhile, Sacramento is 2-10 in games against teams with .500 records. What could transform a mediocre team into a playoff contender? Success against the league's best teams, the ability to win on the road and the ability to defend the home court. 

Poise and execution under pressure usually accompany maturity and togetherness, qualities the young Kings do not yet possess. That's one reason why the Kings offense stalled late against Cleveland. Sacramento did not score in overtime. 

Sacramento coach Paul Westphal has used 11 different starting lineups this season as he attempts to find the best matchups for his squad. Westphal opened the Cavs game with Tyreke Evans (20 years old), Donte Greene (21), Omri Casspi (21), Spencer Hawes (21) and Jason Thompson (23). That starting lineup is the youngest since the franchise moved from Kansas City to Sacramento in 1985. 

That configuration of youth usually is not a recipe for success late in games. 

Moreover, Westphal used Casspi, Thompson, Hawes and Evans 41 minutes or more. Clearly, fatigue played a role in Sacramento missing each of seven overtime field-goal attempts. 

The Kings are a developing product. Westphal's youngsters don't get the necessary experience until they take a couple of losses. One of Westphal's strengths is seeing the big picture. 

Evans has gained a quick reputation for taking over games. The Cavaliers, one of the NBA's best defensive teams, were not going to allow Evans to single-handedly defeat them. Neither will the Lakers. Westphal knows this as well, but realizes Evans must learn how to use that defensive attention against his opponents. 

"Did the ball stick in his hands a little bit too much sometimes?" Westphal asked of Evans. "Sure. He's not the only one in play. There's me, there are other players on the floor that allowed that to happen. We need to correct that. 

"We want (Evans) shooting and we want him attacking. We just want to do it a little bit differently and a little more subtly. That will come." 

If Westphal can receive consistent performances from Hawes akin to the one against the Cavs, it would go a long way toward taking the heat off of Evans. Hawes' aggressiveness at times mirrored that of his former University of Washington teammate Jon (Wildman) Brockman. Hawes grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds to combine with 17 points and three blocks. 

However, the Lakers will bring an angry, large and talented front line for Hawes to battle.