The Los Angeles Lakers clinched a 132-122 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, delivering an impressive performance despite the absence of LeBron James due to illness. The team’s victory was primarily driven by Anthony Davis, who secured 36 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists. Austin Reaves also stood out, contributing 26 points and 16 assists, the highest in his career. Other outstanding performances came from Rui Hachimura with 21 points, Max Christie with 16, and Dalton Knecht with 18 off the bench.
The Kings were playing their first match under interim coach Doug Christie following the controversial dismissal of Mike Brown. Despite a commendable performance from De’Aaron Fox, who scored 29 points and furnished 12 assists, the team fell short. DeMar DeRozan also contributed significantly, scoring 25 points. Overall, however, the Kings’ defense was found wanting, allowing the Lakers 33 free-throw attempts.
A pivotal moment in the game arrived when Domantas Sabonis, power forward for the Kings, fouled for the fifth time with slightly over four minutes left in the third quarter. His subsequent absence facilitated an aggressive attack from the Lakers, who exploited Sabonis’ absence by focusing their efforts on the paint. In the end, Sabonis fouled out with around five minutes left on the clock, by which point the Lakers had firmly established their dominance.
An interesting statistic to note here is the Lakers’ performance without James, which currently stands at 2-1. Hachimura has been particularly crucial to this record, contributing significantly to both victories. His notable performances include securing 23 points against the Portland team on December 8, indicating his importance to the team in the absence of their star player.
The Kings are gearing up to host Dallas next on Monday. Meanwhile, the Lakers will continue their four-game homestand against Cleveland on Tuesday. Both teams will undoubtedly look to capitalize on their upcoming matches to recuperate from Saturday’s game.
This report was provided by The Associated Press and included in the sports coverage by FOX Sports. The outlet offers daily personalized newsletters featuring more stories like these, delivered right to the readers’ inboxes. Follow your favorite leagues, teams, and players for comprehensive information about games, news, and more from the National Basketball Association.
