The Los Angeles Lakers knocked off the Sacramento Kings, 125-101, on Sunday, Dec. 28 behind a 34-point efficiency from Luka Dončić, together with 24 within the first half.
The Lakers (20-10) have been led by Dončić and LeBron James, who added 24 factors on 84% taking pictures from the sphere. The Kings have been taking part in on consecutive nights, following their win against the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 27.
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“The product that we were putting out there just wasn’t there,” Kings head coach Doug Christie informed reporters after the sport. “That obviously starts with me, always. We came in and we weren’t grabbing hold and controlling. The level of physicality wasn’t to the level that we draw the line in the sand and say this is what it’s going to be.”
On Sunday, Sacramento was led by DeMar DeRozan, with 22 factors, and rookie Maxime Raynaud who recorded a double-double, 16 factors and 10 rebounds. Six gamers scored in double-figures, together with Malik Monk, Nique Clifford and Dennis Schröder, who every had 11.
The Kings shot simply 28% from 3-point distance and had 19 turnovers on the night, which become 23 factors for the Lakers. Sacramento dropped to 8-24, going into their subsequent recreation on Tuesday, Dec. 30 in an away recreation towards the Los Angeles Clippers.
“Our sense of urgency, the ability to have multiple efforts, it just wasn’t at the level that it’s been at period,” Christie stated. “We have to make sure that we bounce back versus the Clippers with a high level of energy, effort and intensity, physicality, all of those things.”
Sacramento Kings: News, stats, injuries and more
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Kings vs. Lakers highlights
1st quarter highlights
Lebron James hit a pull-up jumper on the prime of the important thing to finish the primary quarter. It capped a 10-point first quarter for James, because the Lakers led 30-24 after 12 minutes. Luka had 9 factors.
The Kings have been led by DeMar DeRozan, who scored eight factors within the first interval.
2nd quarter highlights
Malik Monk acquired going early within the second, hitting on back-to-back three level subject objectives.
The Kings allowed the Lakers to get transition baskets together with a LeBron James reverse dunk. The Kings acquired to their spots on offense for well timed buckets.
The deficit grew because the Kings acquired sloppy with the basketball and threw consecutive turnovers. Luka Doncic scored 15 factors within the second quarter. He had 24 complete within the first half.
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The Kings trailed 68-53 on the finish of the primary half.
third quarter highlights
The Kings got here out torpid to start out the third quarter. A step sluggish to free balls, offensively, they appeared stagnant.
The lead grew to twenty earlier than Sacramento head coach Doug Christie known as a timeout. Kings trailed 73-53.
The Lakers had the whole lot going within the third. They knocked down open threes, step again mid-range pictures and factors within the paint. The greatest lead was 26 for the Lakers.
At the top of the third quarter, Sacramento trailed 99-80.
4th quarter highlights
The Lakers’ 3-point barrage continued into the fourth quarter. The deficit proved to be too giant for the Kings to mount a comeback, the biggest lead for the Lakers grew to 30.
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Sacramento misplaced by a last rating of 125-101.
Recap: Kings keys
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Frustrate their stars: Sacramento has performed scrappy, stifling protection. It’s what helped them of their win towards Dallas and an enormous win towards Houston on Dec. 21. Keep that very same strain on Lakers stars Luka Dončić and LeBron James and make them uncomfortable. Dončić and James mixed for 58 factors. James shot 84% from the sphere.
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Lean on youth for power: In the second night time of a back-to-back, the Kings ought to depend on their rookies and younger guys to supply power early and sometimes all through the sport. Look for guys like Keon Ellis, Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell and Nique Clifford to spark fireplace. Raynaud tallied a double-double (16 factors, 10 rebounds) and Cardwell scored seven factors and 7 rebounds, whereas being a +1 on the ground. Clifford scored 11, whereas Ellis solely scored two.
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Defend with out fouling:As energetic and up-tempo because the Kings are, it is essential to defend with out fouling because the Lakers are third within the league in free throws made and second in free throws tried. The Kings had 19 free throw makes an attempt, in comparison with the Lakers’ 18 pictures.
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Homecoming, revenge tour: It’s a homecoming for Los Angeles natives Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan. There’s nothing like residence cooking. Plus, each time Westbrook performs his former crew or teammates, it feels private. DeRozan led the crew with 22 factors but it surely wasn’t sufficient. Westbrook added 13 factors and had six turnovers.
Kings subsequent 5 video games
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Jan. 1 vs. Boston Celtics
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Jan. 4 vs. Milwaukee Bucks
This article initially appeared on USA TODAY: Kings lose to Lakers on Sunday night: Highlights