LOS ANGELES -- What does a 105-99 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in the defending world champions' house … on Christmas night … before a national television audience … amid Don King-esque hype ... say about a team?

Not much, if you ask the Sacramento Kings.

	Chris Webber, right, and the Kings are focused on gaining another title shot.

And here's the Cliffs Notes synopsis of the Kings' postgame philosophizing: One regular-season game in December does not a championship season make, much less serve as equal revenge for a heartbreaking Western Conference finals loss last June that still stings the Kings.

"This is one game," Mike Bibby said. "One game can't be a measuring stick for anything."

After standing side by side with the Lakers for the first time this season, the Kings can confidently look down on their nemesis from the south, and we're not just talking about the Pacific Division standings, where first-place Sacramento enjoys an 11½-game lead on sixth-place L.A.

Already deeper in talent than the Lakers before upgrading their bench with super subs Keon Clark and Jim Jackson, the Kings merely have more capable bodies in reserve than Phil Jackson's old and creaky supporting cast. Both Clark, a free-agent signee last August, and Jackson, who's gone from a temporary injury replacement to an invaluable scorer/stopper in Rick Adelman's rotation, contributed seven and eight points, respectively, to Sacramento's 26-17 edge in bench scoring.

Jackson, who played the entire fourth quarter, scored six points and harassed Kobe Bryant into 1-for-8 shooting in the final period, echoed his teammates' "only one game" mantra.

"It was important for us to come in here, play well and win the game," said Jim Jackson, who figures to keep getting plenty of playing time due to Bobby Jackson's broken knuckle on his left hand caused by a Shaquille O'Neal fourth-quarter hack. "We still have three more games against them, but from the mindset that we can play and compete and win in this arena, that's the only statement this game makes.

"It's early in the season and they're struggling now. But as champions are, they're going to regroup, they're going to be back. But for us, we have to keep our eye on the prize, which is to continue to get better."

Bryant already sees improvement. "Individually, they've gotten better," he said. "Every one of them has improved his game."

	“	They've still got the rings. We've got Christmas Day bragging rights. But, really, what does that mean in the big picture? ”
		— Chris Webber

Such praise goes in one ear and out the other with these Kings. But even they can't deny the fact that they were able to accomplish what Dallas failed to do in its recent visit to Staples (i.e., finish off the Lakers in the fourth quarter) and duplicate what the Lakers did to the Mavs (i.e., rally from behind in the second half, albeit the deficit was 12 points, not 30).

So, in 2½ hours on Christmas Night, did the Kings validate themselves as the team to beat? Was Sacramento that team anyway?

Don't put too much value into one 48-minute scrimmage, warns Adelman -- even if it was The Biggest Game Of The Season So Far.

"The statement that (the win) makes is that we're just trying to keep getting better," Adelman said. "We've been through a lot of adversity this first part of the year, too, with injuries. We just keep saying we can win. We want to be a better team in April than we were last April. That's what we're trying to do. This is one game where we knew … they wanted a win and we wanted to respond to that."

"They've still got the rings. We've got Christmas Day bragging rights," Chris Webber said. "But, really, what does that mean in the big picture? It means a lot, but we're trying to stay focused on the big picture right now."

The one where you get to pose with the Larry O'Brien trophy.

Joe Lago is the NBA editor for ESPN.com.