Following another disappointing loss on Monday, the Kings desperately needed a win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Beating the Lakers holds huge implications for playoff positioning, and for general purposes of good vs evil. Let’s see how they did.
Quick Stats
Outcome: Kings win, 130-120
Sacramento Kings: 130 pts, 55.7% fg, 38.7% 3 pt, 83.3% ft, 32 ast, 46 reb, 13 to
Los Angeles Lakers: 120pts, 51.9% fg, 46.9% 3 pt, 84.0% ft, 25 ast, 34 reb, 14 to
This game started UGLY. The King came out with lackluster energy, and trailed by as many as 19 points in the first quarter. It really seemed like Sacramento was going to continue the same energy from Monday. Luckily that wasn’t the case. The Kings, led by De’Aaron Fox, came out with energy and focus and close the gap before the end of the first. They extended the lead big time in the second quarter, and continued the momentum in the third. The Kings did allow a bit of a run in the fourth, but the game was never truly in danger down the stretch. It was exactly what Kings fans needed.
The Good, The Bad, & The Best
The Good:
- Bench Contributions: Led by the inevitable 6th Man of the Year Malik Monk, the bench stepped up big in this game. Monk had a huge 26 points off the bench, to go along with 8 assists and 5 rebounds. Monk’s swagger and shotmaking were on full display. Trey Lyles had 7 points, and played some solid defense on LeBron James down the stretch. Lyles didn’t exactly stop LeBron, but he slowed him down more than the other options the Kings threw at James. Davion Mitchell was also huge in this one. I don’t know where Davion’s shot came from, but he was a perfect 4 for 4 from beyond the arc. I was also happy to see minutes for both Alex Len and Keon Ellis throughout the game.
- Steady Like An Ox: Domantas Sabonis struggled early in the game. The Kings weren’t getting a lot of love from the refs (I know you’re shocked), and Sabonis couldn’t settle into a groove. Sabonis continued to attack, and finished with another triple double. 16 points, 20 rebounds, and 12 assists.
The Bad:
- Opening Energy: As I mentioned earlier, the Kings came out flat in this game. Given the stakes of this game, it’s concerning that the team continues to struggle with their energy and focus at the start of games. Luckily it was a brief blip.
- Kevin Huerter: A big part of those opening struggles involved Kevin Huerter. Huerter ended up playing just 12 minutes and had 2 points on 1-f-r3 shooting. I don’t blame Mike Brown for quickly moving away from Huerter in favor of other options. Not sure what’s going on with Huerter this season, but it would be nice if he could figure it out for this home stretch.
The Best:
- Mike Brown won 2 Challenges: No, seriously. He won two coach’s challenges. In one game. It was incredible.
The King of Kings
De’Aaron Fox took over this game early and never stopped. Fox tied his career high with 44 points. During one stretch Fox scored 10 straight points for the Kings. The Lakers simply had no answer. Fox kicked into gear when the Kings fell behind early, and it was great seeing him step up and lead the team when the Kings needed it.
Up Next
No rest for the victors, as the Kings host the San Antonio Spurs Thursday night in Sacramento.
