Sabonis records a triple-double as the Kings defeat the Lakers 120-107 to complete a four-game season sweep.
On Wednesday night, Domantas Sabonis led the Sacramento Kings to a 120-107 victory over the LA Lakers with 17 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists.
The Kings have defeated the Lakers in seven of their final eight meetings, including a season-long four-game sweep. All five of the Kings’ starters scored in double digits, led by Harrison Barnes, who finished with 23 points and seven 3-pointers, De’Aaron Fox, who added 21, and Keegan Murray, who had 19.
With his most recent triple-double coming in the Kings’ victory over the Lakers last week, Sabonis now leads the league with 23. The Kings center, who faced off against Anthony Davis of the Lakers, achieved what coach Mike Brown referred to as “the norm.”
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“Very impressive performance from him against an extremely strong team,” Brown remarked. “He continued to stay in there despite being hit, bumped, and all that.” Austin Reaves scored 28 points to lead the Lakers. LeBron James had eighteen points and thirteen rebounds, while Davis contributed twenty-two points and ten boards.
The Kings are now three games above over the ninth-place Lakers in the conference’s western division, level with Phoenix in sixth place. Both clubs are vying for a postseason spot. After a competitive first half, Sacramento opened up a double-digit lead in the third half and held Los Angeles to just four field goals. In the quarter, Sacramento pulled away. The Kings led by 15 points after Fox made back-to-back baskets to close the third quarter.
Being a team that can finish the half strong and dominate the third quarter is vital for anybody, Fox said, especially in this league. “Because you have the option to extend or retract the lead after emerging from the half and to be up or down.”
Earlier in the fourth quarter, the Lakers narrowed the gap to only ten points, but Barnes & Malik Monk promptly made 3-pointers to restore the Kings’ comfortable lead. Darvin Ham, the coach of the Lakers, claimed that his team failed to perform small tasks.
Can’t ignore specifics’, Ham declared. Some of our players, who weren’t very good shooters, had excellent looks most of the time. However, simply keeping an eye on the next play in team basketball.
Murray scored 14 points and drained four 3-pointers to lead Sacramento 60-56 at the half. Brown gave the Kings’ defense credit for making eight straight stops at the close of the first and the start of the second halves, which helped them take the lead. “We have a chance to blow our chances open when we’re able to rack up eight blocks in a row against any team over the entirety of the ballgame,” Brown stated.
The Kings defeated Milwaukee in Sacramento on Tuesday, easily winning their second consecutive game against a different playoff team despite missing Kevin Huerter (on the right leg bruise) as well as Trey Lyles (on the left knee sprain). Barnes is hoping that the effort will translate to other clubs.
As a team, “I don’t think we have an issue with revving up for big games,” stated Barnes. That hasn’t at all been our weak point, in my opinion. We have the ability to react and stand up throughout those games. Could we please just keep up this consistency and same level of attention for the remainder of the league?
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Lakers: Host Golden State on Saturday.
Kings: Host New York on Saturday.
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