Lakers beat Kings behind Luka Dončić’s third straight 40-point game
Carlos Yakimowich
Host · Writer
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Luka Dončić scored 11 straight points for the Los Angeles Lakers in the second quarter Wednesday night, then helped finish off the Sacramento Kings at the free-throw line in the fourth.
Dončić finished with 40 points, nine rebounds and seven assists as the Lakers beat the Kings 116-103 at Golden 1 Center. It was his third straight 40-point game (and fourth in last five games) and the third straight win for L.A., improving their record to 7-2.
Dončić shot 11 of 23 from the field and made six 3-pointers. He has recorded at least 35 points, five rebounds, five assists and five 3-pointers in six consecutive appearances. The rest of the NBA has combined for five such games this season.
It was the 66th time Dončić reached those marks in his career, moving him past Stephen Curry for second all time, according to the team.
Austin Reaves added 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting, and Walker Kessler finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, four blocks and three steals. The Lakers finished with 13 blocks and 11 steals, converting 18 Sacramento turnovers into 23 points.
Sacramento opened with a 16-8 lead, but Dončić scored 10 points in the first quarter and the Lakers pulled even at 28 by the end of the period. L.A. made five 3-pointers in the quarter while scoring just four points in the paint.
Dončić’s second-quarter run brought him to 21 points in his first 16 minutes with a flamethrower run where he scored 11 straight points. The Lakers made 10 3-pointers before halftime and turned 11 Sacramento turnovers into 12 points to take a 61-54 lead into the break.
The Kings opened the third quarter on a 15-12 run to cut the deficit to four. The Lakers answered by outscoring Sacramento 14-5 the rest of the quarter, building a lead that reached 16 before taking an 87-74 advantage into the fourth.
Sacramento cut an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit to seven before Dončić helped close out the win from the line. The Lakers made 15 of 17 free throws in the fourth quarter and finished 34 of 38 for the game.
Darius Acuff Jr. led Sacramento with 22 points and 12 assists. Zach LaVine scored 21 points, and Domantas Sabonis added 16 points and 17 rebounds as the Kings fell to 1-7.
The Lakers host the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.
