Luka Doncic scored 34 points and the Los Angeles Lakers ended a three-game skid with a 125-101 win over the visiting Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
Doncic hit five 3-pointers, while also chalking up seven assists and three steals.
LeBron James posted 24 points on 11-of-13 shooting, while Nick Smith Jr. added 21 off the bench, including five 3-pointers.
James’ night ended early when he hurt his right lower back in a collision with DeMar DeRozan, exiting the game with 5:43 remaining in the fourth quarter, a concern for the Lakers who are without Austin Reaves for at least a month with a left calf injury.
DeRozan had 22 points for Sacramento, while Maxime Raynaud paired 16 points with 10 rebounds, and Russell Westbrook contributed 13 points.
James was lively early with 10 first-quarter points, highlighted by a spectacular alley-oop slam from Marcus Smart’s no-look lob.
James’ 22-foot pull-up jumper on the buzzer put Los Angeles up 30-24 after one.
James, who turns 41 in two days, threw down an even better dunk in the second frame, a baseline reverse special off Doncic’s pinpoint pass from beyond halfcourt.
Doncic had 14 points in the quarter and 23 for the half as the Lakers increased their advantage to 68-53.
Los Angeles hit 14 of 20 from the floor in the second period, and 25 of 40 at the main break.
James had his third dunk of the evening early in the third – finishing a Deandre Ayton lob – as the Lakers continued to thrive after intermission.
The 23-year veteran buried a 3-pointer to cap a 21-4 run either side of halftime to blow the margin out to 81-55.
Smart scored eight straight points in 53 seconds to recover the 26-point lead before the Kings closed to 99-80 with a period to play, finishing the third frame with a Nique Clifford three.
James’ fourth dunk, 3-pointers from Rui Hachimura and Doncic, and a pair of free throws from Jake LaRavia capped a 13-2 burst which saw the home side’s cushion balloon to 118-90.
–Field Level Media
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