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mar 02 2026LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Sacramento Kings 128-104 in the NBA with 28 points and nine assists from Luka Dončić and 24 points from LeBron James, completing back-to-back victories after also beating Golden State on Saturday.
The Los Angeles squad established control from the opening tip. Sacramento scored the game's first basket, but the Lakers took command immediately and never relinquished the lead. With a high volume of three-point shooting, the home team converted 17 of their first 33 attempts from beyond the arc while their starters were on the floor, flirting with the franchise record for three-point percentage. They finished 18 of 39 from long range.
Luka Dončić, the NBA's leading scorer, made four three-pointers and played only the first three quarters in a night of load management. LeBron James, at 41 years old, added two powerful dunks that he celebrated with intensity during a game that was decided without drama. Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard each added three three-pointers, and Austin Reaves contributed 12 points. Deandre Ayton was perfect from the field (6 of 6) for 12 points, in a first half in which the Lakers built a lead as large as 22 points.
In the fourth quarter, Dončić, Reaves, and Ayton did not return to the floor, with four games scheduled over the next seven days and amid a stretch of five weeks without consecutive rest days for Los Angeles.
For Sacramento, Nique Clifford led the way with 26 points in the Kings' fourth consecutive loss at the Los Angeles arena. Russell Westbrook added 14 points against his former team in his hometown. The California squad, which has the worst record in the NBA, has lost 18 of its last 20 games.
With this victory, the Lakers put an end to a three-game losing streak following the All-Star break and regain momentum with two consecutive wins over their Northern California rivals, whom they have beaten by a combined total of 52 points during the weekend.
