The Sacramento Kings (13-15) may have lost to an eastern conference power in the Cleveland Cavaliers (23-8) on Wednesday night, but the team's rookie guard Tyreke Evans impressed all-stars LeBron James and Mo Williams.

Evans posted 28 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, a steal and a block in an 117-104 overtime loss to the Cavaliers.

"He's a terrific young player," Williams said, who defended Evans for much of the night. "Six-foot-six-inch point guard who can handle the ball...has a quick first-step. You know he's a match-up problem waiting to happen."

James always steps up to defend the opposing team's best player down the stretch, and Evans was no exception.

"Tyreke's going to be a great player," James said. "They got an unbelievable guy here in Sacramento. They should be really excited about him. He'll take them to a championship, definitely."

Evans wasn't the only player to impress the Cavaliers. Cleveland head coach Mike Brown said that the Kings played well as a whole, mentioning Jason Thompson, Spencer Hawes and Omri Casspi.

"It's a much improved team," Brown said. "Coach (Paul) Westphal has done a nice job with that group of guys. They have some nice young talent with height and athleticism. They play hard."

Williams agreed with his coach's statement.

"We expected them to come out with a lot of energy," Williams said about the Kings.

The Kings will have to exert the same energy against long-time division rival and defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers tonight.

The Lakers, who are tied with the Boston Celtics for the best record in the league (23-5), will play without former King Ron Artest, who injured himself tripping over a box and falling down a flight of stairs at home.

The team is also coming off a 102-87 loss against the Cavaliers on Christmas day.

Photo by Rob Small.