Lakers 116, Kings 103: Luka Doncic Scores 40 as Los Angeles Pulls Away in Sacramento

Luka Doncic kept up his scoring tear on Wednesday night, Nov. 4. He scored 40 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings 116-103 at Golden 1 Center, according to the Associated Press. It was his sixth straight game with at least 35 points and his third straight with 40 or more, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The Lakers improved to 7-2. Sacramento, which got its first win of the season Monday in Dallas, fell to 1-7 and is still winless at home.

Lakers vs. Kings: the final score

• Final: Lakers 116, Kings 103
• By quarter: Los Angeles 28-33-26-29; Sacramento 28-26-20-29
• Halftime: Lakers 61, Kings 54
• Records: Lakers 7-2, Kings 1-7

An uneven first half

The Times called it an “uneven” win. Officials called 12 fouls on each team in the first half, including nine on the Lakers in the second quarter alone. Jake LaRavia picked up his fourth foul with 8:02 left in the second, and the Lakers had the Kings in the bonus with 9:24 still to play in the quarter.

Doncic started slowly by his standards, with 10 points in the first quarter. He then took over late in the half, scoring 13 of the Lakers’ last 15 points before the break and going into halftime with 23. He added 12 in the third and five in the fourth as Los Angeles pulled away.

Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings player stats

Los Angeles Lakers - Luka Doncic: 40 points (11-of-23, 6-of-13 from 3, 12-of-13 free throws), 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 6 turnovers - Austin Reaves: 21 points, 4 assists - Walker Kessler: 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks - Ziaire Williams: 10 points - Collin Sexton: 10 points off the bench

Sacramento Kings - Darius Acuff Jr.: 22 points, 12 assists (8-of-24 shooting) - Zach LaVine: 21 points, 6 turnovers - Domantas Sabonis: 16 points, 17 rebounds - De’Andre Hunter: 14 points - Malik Monk: 13 points off the bench

Kessler’s block total is four in the ESPN box score; the Times described it as three. Box scores are sometimes revised after the game.

Doncic’s historic start

Doncic has scored 308 points in the eight games he has played this season, AP reported. That makes him the first player to top 300 points in his first eight games of a season since Michael Jordan scored 303 in 1988-89. Only Wilt Chamberlain has scored more in his first eight games. He did it three times, topping out at 418 in 1962-63.

He came in leading the league at 38.3 points per game and ranked third in assists at 8.1, per the Times.

Lakers coach JJ Redick pointed to Doncic’s leadership. “I think that’s where I’ve seen a lot of growth from him,” Redick said, according to the Times. “He’s leading that right now.”

Fan removed after third-quarter incident

Late in the third quarter, after a ball went out of bounds, a fan near the baseline threw the ball hard at official Chelisa Painter, AP reported. Doncic immediately pointed at the fan and appeared to say something. Security then removed the fan from his seat.

Kings rookie Acuff stands out in a loss

Rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr. came into the night eighth in the NBA in scoring at 26.1 points per game, the Times reported. He led Sacramento with 22 points and 12 assists, though it took him 24 shots. The Kings came in allowing 124.3 points per game, the second most in the league.

Injury note

Lakers forward Adou Thiero, who has been out with a left knee injury, practiced with the G League Coachella Valley Lakers on Wednesday. “Practice was fine today,” Redick said, per the Times, adding that Thiero will be back with the team.

What’s next

• Lakers: host Portland on Friday night
• Kings: host San Antonio on Friday night

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