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Dave McMenamin
LOS ANGELES — The Lakers, having recently lost three consecutive matches, dealing with Austin Reaves’ calf injury, and following a frank team discussion, saw LeBron James and Luka Doncic guide them to a commanding 125-101 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, bringing some stability.
“My intention isn’t to frame this solely as a narrative about Luka and myself,” James commented. “The game involves five players on the court and another seven entering from the sidelines. The effort must be collective. However, establishing the initial momentum is crucial for us.”
James successfully converted his initial three attempts within the game’s opening three minutes, an early indicator of what ESPN Insights later confirmed as his most effective performance in a Lakers uniform. He finished 11-of-13 from the floor, achieving an 84.6% shooting accuracy, which was not only his personal best as a Laker but also the third highest in his 23 seasons playing professionally.
“Tonight, I experienced a remarkable sense of flow,” James stated. “My movements felt energetic and agile, and I aimed to maximize every possession where I had the ball.”
While James contributed significantly in the initial period, Doncic took charge of the majority of the offense in the second quarter, where he recorded 15 of his game-leading 34 points by shooting 5-for-7 from the floor.
“In my opinion, the initiative absolutely originates with us,” Doncic commented. “Upon AR’s return, the responsibility will be shared among all three of us. For the present, however, it’s our task. We must demonstrate our capabilities, and if we’re to succeed, it will be a joint effort from both of us. The rest of the squad will then follow suit.”
According to Lakers head coach JJ Redick, their cohesive play was a direct continuation of their efforts from the previous day’s practice session.
“Their collaborative performance this evening comes as no surprise to me, given that yesterday’s practice was among our most productive, with both of them collaborating, distributing the ball, and executing two-player plays,” Redick stated.
Los Angeles held a 68-53 advantage at the half and almost doubled that margin during the initial 3½ minutes of the third quarter, employing a 13-2 scoring surge following the intermission to seize control of the game through defensive prowess.
“During that 13-2 sequence, we had several instances where we adopted a defensive mindset involving all five players, and that’s precisely our objective,” Redick explained. “Our aim is for all five players to consistently remain fully involved on defense during every possession. That principle serves as our guiding vision for constructing an effective defensive strategy.”
Following their disheartening 119-96 defeat to the Houston Rockets on Thursday, a notably poor showing on the prominent NBA Christmas Day schedule, the squad received news on Friday that Reaves would be out for a minimum of four weeks, recuperating from a strained calf muscle in his left leg.
Subsequently, Saturday featured a team gathering and an uncommonly extensive practice session, which Redick had promised would be “challenging,” yet it evolved into what the coach characterized as a collaborative discussion between staff and athletes to gain clearer understanding. This was then followed by an even more unusual Sunday morning shootaround – a rarity given the early 6:30 p.m. PT game start time.
When given their initial opportunity to demonstrate their commitment, the Lakers delivered a comprehensive, full-team performance.
Deandre Ayton achieved a double-double, recording 11 points and 11 rebounds. Rui Hachimura netted 12 points, hitting 5-of-10 attempts, a notable increase in his shot volume after attempting six or fewer shots in three of his last four contests. Jake LaRavia, coming off the bench, supplied 11 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals.
Furthermore, Nick Smith Jr., playing under a two-way agreement, began the match by making all seven of his initial shots, accumulated 21 points across 24 minutes of play, and subsequently received the game ball from his teammates.
“Possessing self-assurance is imperative in this league; without it, opponents will immediately detect your lack thereof,” Smith remarked. “I believe I can compete effectively against the top players.”
Further underscoring their comprehensive team effort, the Lakers, for the first time throughout the current season, claimed victory in every single quarter of the game.
“We convened and addressed various matters,” LaRavia stated. “Should we maintain this level of performance nightly, this exemplifies what I mean when we assert that we are a formidable opponent.”
Sunday’s contest served as James’s final appearance before his 41st birthday on Tuesday, concluding an exceptional year of play during his fortieth year. Across 56 regular-season matchups, spanning from the close of the previous season to the beginning of the current one, James posted averages of 23.9 points with 52% accuracy from the field, alongside 7.4 assists and 7.1 rebounds.
“Do you recall my involvement in that ‘Father Time’ commercial for Nike?” James inquired. “I’m engaged in a contest with him. And I’d venture to say I’m significantly outperforming him in the latter stages.”
