SACRAMENTO, Calif. — LeBron James delivered a stellar performance, scoring 32 points to help the Los Angeles Lakers secure a narrow victory against the Sacramento Kings, finishing the game at 103-99. This win allowed the Lakers to sweep their two-game series against the Kings, having previously triumphed 113-100 on Thursday.
With just 12 seconds remaining and the Kings trailing 101-99, they had a chance to tie the game after Anthony Davis missed two critical free throws. However, they failed to capitalize on the opportunity as they were unable to grab the rebound. Austin Reaves was subsequently fouled, and his successful free throws sealed the outcome of the match.
Reaves contributed significantly by scoring 16 points, while Davis had a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds. On the King’s side, De’Aaron Fox emerged as the standout performer with 31 points. Domantas Sabonis also played a key role, recording 19 points and 19 rebounds, while DeMar DeRozan chipped in with 12 points.
In an impressive personal milestone, Davis recorded his 642nd block, surpassing the legendary Kobe Bryant to rank fifth on the Lakers’ all-time list for blocked shots.
Throughout the game, several takeaways emerged. The Lakers initially struggled with ball control, committing 10 turnovers in the first quarter alone, but managed to correct their mistakes, reducing their turnovers to only four in the subsequent three quarters. Conversely, the Kings’ head coach Mike Brown expressed his disappointment regarding his team’s early mistakes. Sacramento started the game poorly, making a careless pass and committing a foul on James right off the bat, leading to four turnovers in the first five minutes. They did manage to capitalize when the Lakers began to falter as well.
A key moment that defined the game occurred after Davis missed his second free throw; Rui Hachimura was quick to tip the ball back to Davis, who then immediately passed it to Reaves, prompting a foul from the Kings.
Statistically, both teams struggled from beyond the arc, shooting below 30%. Sacramento managed a slight edge with 27% compared to Los Angeles’ 25.7%.
Looking ahead, the Lakers are set to face the Detroit Pistons on Monday, while the Kings will be up against the Indiana Pacers the following day, facing a quick turnaround.
