For the fourth time this season, the Los Angeles Lakers have lost to the Sacramento Kings. Despite going into the matchup looking to avenge their three previous losses and put themselves in a better position to move up the Western Conference standings, the Lakers lost again.
In particular, the Lakers fell out of the game during the third quarter of the 120-107 defeat. In the third, the Lakers scored just 17 points to the Kings’ 28 points, putting the game out of reach.
After the game, LeBron James credited the Kings for getting the win, while admitting the Kings had posed a challenge for them. “Offensively, we just couldn’t get it going and they did. Really good team. They have our number this year, for sure … They do a really good job of passing the ball, spreading the ball, moving bodies. When they’re knocking down threes, they’re very difficult to guard them.”
Though the Lakers were able to prevent De’Aaron Fox from going off for 44 points like he did a week ago, the Kings found other ways to win. Harrison Barnes and Keegan Murray both were effective in hitting threes, as Barnes went 7-for-11 and Murray went 5-for-10 on three-point attempts. Domantas Sabonis once again put up a triple-double for the Kings, helping the Kings succeed in all facets of the game.
Now, the Lakers have fallen to 36-31 while the Kings move up to 38-27 as only 15 games remain in the season. If the Lakers do make the postseason or have to face the Kings in the play-in tournament, it could spell trouble for their chances at a deep run this year.