Luka Doncic poured in 34 points as the Los Angeles Lakers snapped a three-game losing streak with a convincing 125-101 victory over the visiting Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
Doncic knocked down five 3-pointers and filled the box score with seven assists and three steals. LeBron James added 24 points on an efficient 11-of-13 shooting, while Nick Smith Jr. sparked the bench with 21 points, drilling five shots from beyond the arc.
The win was tempered by late concern, however, as James exited with 5:43 remaining in the fourth quarter after injuring his right lower back in a collision with DeMar DeRozan. The Lakers are already shorthanded, with Austin Reaves sidelined for at least a month because of a left calf injury.
DeRozan scored 22 points for Sacramento. Maxime Raynaud added 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Russell Westbrook contributed 13 points.
James was lively early, scoring 10 points in the first quarter, highlighted by a spectacular alley-oop dunk off Marcus Smart’s no-look lob.
James’ 22-foot pull-up jumper at the buzzer gave Los Angeles a 30-24 lead after one quarter.
James, who turns 41 in two days, delivered an even better dunk in the second period – a baseline reverse off Doncic’s pinpoint pass from beyond half court.
Doncic scored 14 points in the quarter and had 23 at halftime as the Lakers extended their lead to 68-53. Los Angeles shot 14 of 20 from the field in the second period and 25 of 40 by the break.
James opened the third quarter with his third dunk of the night, finishing a DeAndre Ayton lob, as the Lakers continued to roll after intermission. The 23-year veteran later buried a 3-pointer to cap a 21-4 run spanning either side of halftime, pushing the margin to 81-55.
Smart scored eight straight points in 53 seconds to restore a 26-point lead before the Kings closed to 99-80 heading into the fourth, ending the third quarter with a Nique Clifford 3-pointer.
James’ fourth dunk, 3-pointers from Rui Hachimura and Doncic, and a pair of free throws from Jake LaRavia capped a 13-2 surge that ballooned the Lakers’ cushion to 118-90.