At 14-12, the Lakers came into tonight’s game against the Sacramento Kings desperate for a win. And while it did not come easy, the Los Angeles Lakers somehow managed to outlast their competition and win the game by double-digits (113-100) on the road at Golden 1 Center.
The win was powered by a 37-point first quarter by the Lakers (started on a 19-6 run), and it saw them take a 9-point lead after the first frame. A push by the Kings narrowed the lead to 4 points at halftime but that was as close as they ever got. The Lakers controlled the game for most of the way and while the Kings kept it close, they were unable to make a last-minute run to challenge the lead.
Anthony Davis was the MVP for the Lakers tonight with 21 points, 20 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 blocks on 7-20 shooting. LeBron James wasn’t far behind with 19 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds. In the backcourt, Austin Reaves contributed a team-high 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists on 7-14 shooting while D’Angelo Russell put up 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist in 23 minutes off the bench.
The Kings, who are now 13-15 on the season, were carried by De’Aaron Fox tonight, who finished with 26 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds in 7-17 shooting. Star big man Domantas Sabonis tallied 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks while Malik Monk contributed 17 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds on 7-15 shooting as the starting shooting guard.
As winners of two straight games, the Lakers are holding their ground after a recent rough patch. And while they may not be title contenders in the West this season, factors in their win today prove that they can beat any team when they are playing the right way.
Anthony Davis Outplayed Domantas Sabonis
For some reason, Domantas Sabonis has historically owned the matchups against Anthony Davis and it was becoming somewhat of a running joke in the Lakers community. Davis finally broke that streak tonight with a standout performance in a convincing Lakers victory.
Not only was Davis the star offensively with 21 points and 20 rebounds, but he was also playing elite defense in the entire game, making life difficult for the Kings. He held Sabonis to 18 points in 38 minutes and limited Keegan Murray to 10 points on 4-11 shooting.
With LeBron James near the end of his career, Davis is taking an increasingly larger role on the Lakers and he showed us tonight that he’s more than capable of filling that role as the number one option. If he can play like this more consistently, it will go a long way toward making the Lakers a more legitimate title threat this year.
The Return Of Championship-Level Defense
Head coach JJ Redick has made it a point to focus on improving the team’s defense this season and the results have been promising. Currently, the Lakers rank 21st in the league on that end of the floor but they showed some massive improvement tonight.
Thanks to a solid game plan, great effort from start to finish, and constant communication between the players, the Lakers showed their true potential defensively by shutting down Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, and many of the King’s key role players.Â
This season, for the Lakers to have any success, they’ll need to play defense like that more consistently. Not only was it the recipe for their title run in 2020, it was the catalyst behind their trip to the West Finals in 2023. This year, we’re seeing glimpses of that old defense, but it will require consistent work and effort from everyone on the roster.
Key Contributions Off The Bench
The Lakers have become notorious for their inability to provide a proper supporting cast around LeBron James and Anthony Davis. But they do have flashes of greatness and we saw that tonight with their bench unit.
D’Angelo Russell, who was recently demoted from the starting lineup, had one of his better games as a backup point guard with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist on 7-15 shooting. Meanwhile, Gabe Vincent provided a nice bonus in the backcourt with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists on 4-5 shooting from the field.
Combine those contributions with a hot shooting game from Austin Reaves (25 points on 7-14 shooting), and you’ve got the recipe for an easy Lakers win. While they may be inconsistent, the Lakers’ role-players always open up the floor when they’re making shots and it makes life a lot easier for the stars who are trying to lead the show.
While this game was just one of many for the Lakers, it was a much-needed win in what has otherwise been a difficult stretch of the season. But with their stars healthy and the role-players showing some signs of life, the Lakers are admittedly in a decent position right now as they prepare for their next slate of games.
After a break tomorrow, the Lakers suit up for a rematch against the Kings at 6:00 PM EST on Saturday, December 21st. After that, the Lakers will head back to Crypto.com arena for a game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena at 10:30 PM EST. It’s their final match before the Christmas Day game against the Warriors at 8:00 PM EST at Chase Center.
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