The Los Angeles Lakers secured a 128-104 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night, marking their second consecutive win after defeating the Golden State Warriors. Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 28 points and nine assists, while LeBron James contributed 24 points. The Lakers’ victory followed their win against Golden State on Saturday, ending a three-game losing streak.
Lakers’ Three-Point Shooting Prowess
The Lakers displayed impressive accuracy from beyond the arc. Doncic made four 3-pointers, while James, Marcus Smart, and Luke Kennard each hit three. The Lakers made 17 of their first 33 3-point attempts while the starters were still playing. They finished the game 18 of 39 from three-point range.
James’ Celebratory Dunks Ignite Lakers
LeBron James, at 41 years old, punctuated the Lakers’ comfortable win with a pair of rim-shaking dunks. He celebrated with zeal. The Lakers never trailed after Sacramento scored the game’s opening basket.
Smart’s Defence Sparks Early Lead
Marcus Smart’s defensive plays contributed to the Lakers’ victory. He dove for a loose ball multiple times on a possession that led to an Austin Reaves alley-oop to LeBron James. This gave the Lakers an early 10-2 lead. Coach JJ Redick highlighted Smart’s impact, noting, “Smart’s defence just totally ignited us at different points in the game.”
Kings Struggle as Lakers Pull Away
Nique Clifford scored 26 points for the Kings. Russell Westbrook had 14 points against his former team. Sacramento, who are the NBA’s worst team, have lost 18 of 20.
Doncic’s Dominance and a Touch of Humour
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 28 points, scoring or assisting on 16 points during a key 21-9 run. He attributed a fadeaway 3-pointer, made after losing control of the ball, to tripping on purpose. Doncic quipped, “I tripped on purpose and it was, how do you say, the And-1 Mixtape, that’s what they said on the bench. So, I did it on purpose.”
Looking Ahead
The Kings will host Phoenix on Tuesday. The Lakers will host New Orleans on Tuesday.