Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings Pick & Prediction DECEMBER 21st 2024
Preview and Prediction
The Sacramento Kings are hopeful that by reducing turnovers and committing fewer fouls, they can make a significant impact in their upcoming NBA-style doubleheader against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday afternoon in the California capital.
In their previous meeting on Thursday, the Lakers emerged victorious with a score of 113-100. Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 25 points, followed by Anthony Davis with 21 points and LeBron James with 19 points. However, the real difference-maker in the game was the number of turnovers and fouls committed by the Kings.
The Lakers capitalized on 17 turnovers by the Kings, converting them into 24 points. Additionally, the 21 fouls committed by Sacramento (including a technical foul) resulted in 25 points for the Lakers from free throws. This gave the Lakers a significant 49-24 advantage in these areas.
See also:
Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns' Shooting Guard, to Sit Out Two Games Due to Groin Discomfort
See also:
Nets' C Nic Claxton Fined $25K by NBA for Tossing Ball into Stands
Despite being outshot by the Kings in overall field goal percentage (45.1% to 40.4%) and 3-pointers (37.9% to 36.4%), the Lakers were able to secure the win due to their dominance in turnovers and fouls.
Kings coach Mike Brown acknowledged the obvious reasons for their loss and did not feel the need to address them with his team. He stated that the players are aware of what needs to be done and it is up to them to execute it. Brown also took responsibility for finding a solution and making necessary changes, even if it means bringing in new players.
This loss was the Kings' second consecutive defeat at home, after winning three games in a row (including two on the road). They have not been able to take advantage of a favorable schedule, with nine games at home and only one on the road during the holiday season.
Another notable statistic from the Lakers' win was the 34 minutes played by LeBron James. This allowed him to surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time leader in NBA history with 57,471 minutes played. To put this into perspective, the active leader in minutes played on the Kings' roster is DeMar DeRozan with 39,276 minutes.
James attributed his success to his commitment and passion for the game, stating that he does not take much time off during the offseason.
In addition to his 19 rebounds, Anthony Davis also contributed 7 assists and 6 rebounds in the Lakers' win on Thursday. The Lakers' depth, which had been a concern, also played a crucial role in the victory with D'Angelo Russell scoring 16 points and Gabe Vincent adding 12 points off the bench. This gave the Lakers a 30-19 advantage in bench scoring.
Lack of bench scoring has been a concern for the Kings since Malik Monk was moved into the starting lineup on December 1st. While Monk has been averaging 18.0 points per game in the last eight games, the Sacramento bench has only contributed an average of 24.8 points per game.
See also:
'Celtics' Joe Mazzulla receives $35K penalty from NBA for behavior toward referee'
See also:
"Cavaliers Dominate Cup Champions Bucks in NBA Recap"
De'Aaron Fox led the Kings with 26 points in Thursday's loss.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings Recap DEC 21TH 2024
Austin Reaves poured in a team-high 25 points, Anthony Davis anchored a double-double with 18 rebounds and the visiting Los Angeles Lakers opened a two-game sequence against the Sacramento Kings with a 113-100 victory Thursday night.
Davis attached 21 points, four assists, three steals and six blocks to his rebound total and LeBron James chipped in with 19 points, a team-high seven assists and six rebounds for the Lakers, who won their second in a row.
De'Aaron scored a game-high 26 points and Domantas Sabonis accumulated 18 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists and two blocks for the Kings, who lost their second straight.
The clubs will meet in a rematch, also at Sacramento, on Saturday.
In the second meeting of the Pacific Division rivals this season, the Lakers duplicated their earlier success with a 37-point first quarter that set the tone for the night. Reaves buried a 3-pointer 16 seconds into the game to ignite a 15-2, game-opening burst.
Sacramento briefly moved in front in the second period, but the Lakers scored 13 of the half's final 17 points to go up 62-58 at the break. They led most of the rest of the way.
Reaves' 25 points, which came on 7-for-14 shooting, were just two fewer than his season high. He also contributed six rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Reaves and Davis each were rewarded with nine free throws, helping the Lakers gain a 25-15 advantage in points from the foul line.
D'Angelo Russell chipped in with 16 points. Gabe Vincent scored 12, all on 3-pointers, and Rui Hachimura added 10 points for the Lakers, who won despite getting outshot 45.1 percent to 40.9 percent.
Malik Monk scored 17 points, while DeMar DeRozan and Keegan Murray tallied 10 apiece for the Kings, who hurt themselves with 16 turnovers that the Lakers turned into 22 points.