SACRAMENTO — The moment the Lakers decided on their schedule for the 2024-25 season, the challenge was clear.
They will travel to Sacramento once and face the Kings twice, two of which were against a team whose pace and physicality have given them an edge over the Lakers for several years.
If somehow the Lakers were able to beat the Kings in their first matchup at Golden 1 Center, they would have to try again in a day and a half.
Throughout the first few months of their schedule, the Lakers appeared to have exorcised the Kings’ demons. They defeated them in the first week of the season, silencing the noise about Domantas Sabonis’ superiority over Anthony Davis. In the first game against the Kings on Thursday in Sacramento, Davis was outstanding in what Lakers coach JJ Redick called his “favorite” win of the season.
To do it again? It requires continued attention, continued effort, and continued execution. As coach Doc Rivers often told Redick’s Clippers team, the Lakers will have to hang on to the rope in a game of tug-of-war.
The Lakers led by as many as 10 points late in the fourth, but the game began to slip through their hands. After blown coverage, poor offensive possessions and missed free throws, the Lakers still had only a rope thread in their hands.
There weren’t that many. But they were there.
Rui Hachimura’s offensive rebound after Davis missed two free throws with 12.1 seconds left gave the Kings no chance to tie or take the lead, and the Lakers held on for a 103-99 victory.
After setting the NBA record for minutes played in a regular season game, James dominated the Kings offensively, scoring 32 points in one game and recording four steals defensively. D’Angelo Russell had 20 points off the bench, and Davis finished a tough offensive night with 15 rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots.
The Lakers, who have won three straight, will play Detroit in Los Angeles on Monday.
