By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Los Angeles Lakers pulled away in the second half to defeat the Sacramento Kings, 125-101, in crypto.com Arena on Sunday.
Leading his side in snapping a three-game losing streak in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season, Luka Doncic dropped a game-high 34 points behind 11/23 field goals, including five three-pointers. Lasting 32:44, he also piled up seven assists, five rebounds, three steals, and one block.
“It was good, especially defensively. It was a lot more effort from everybody. We played for each other,” the Slovenian superstar described in a postgame interview, focusing on the defensive effort for the team coached by JJ Redick. “That’s how we are going to win games. That’s how we won games before.”
“We talked about a lot in the group. It’s just between us. So, I think we responded well,” the Ljubljana native replied to a question about the recent team meeting in the following press conference.
German reserve Maxi Kleber chipped in two points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal over 13:14, helping the Lakers jump to 20-10.
Starting for the visitors, French Maxime Raynaud posted a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double to go with two assists in 34:48. Logging 19:28 off the bench, German Dennis Schroder ended up with 11 points, seven assists, two steals, two rebounds, and one block. In contrast, Croatian Dario Saric did not play, and Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis (left knee partial meniscus tear) remained sidelined.
With a five-game homestand stretching until the end of next week, the Lakers resume action on Tuesday against the Detroit Pistons. On the same day, the Kings visit the Los Angeles Clippers in Intuit Dome.