Los Angeles allowed the worst 3-point shooting percentage in franchise history during their third consecutive defeat against Sacramento’s 9-30 record
The Los Angeles Lakers experienced one of the most defensively embarrassing nights in franchise history on Monday, falling 124-112 to the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. It represented the worst 3-point defensive performance the Lakers have ever recorded when opponents attempted at least 25 shots from beyond the arc, with Sacramento converting an astounding 65.4% of their attempts from deep.
Despite the historic failure to contain Sacramento’s perimeter shooting, Lakers star LeBron James downplayed the defensive lapses. Instead, he pointed to his team’s own offensive struggles as the primary culprit for the loss. The Kings entered Monday’s contest with a dismal 9-30 record, sitting 14th in the Western Conference, making the Lakers’ defensive collapse all the more difficult to explain.
Former Lakers guards lead the 3-point barrage
Sacramento’s long-range assault was spearheaded by two former Lakers guards who seemed motivated to prove something against their old team. Malik Monk torched Los Angeles for 26 points while connecting on 7-of-9 attempts from 3-point range. Russell Westbrook added 22 points and made 4-of-8 from deep, helping the Kings achieve their season-high shooting percentage from distance.
DeMar DeRozan led all scorers with 32 points on an efficient 14-of-19 shooting performance, though notably all of his made field goals came from inside the arc. The Kings executed their game plan perfectly, exploiting the Lakers’ defensive weaknesses while the visiting team struggled to find any offensive rhythm.
Lakers’ offensive struggles magnified the loss
While Sacramento was setting franchise records against them defensively, the Lakers managed just 8-of-36 shooting from 3-point range. That abysmal 22.2% conversion rate looked even worse before Bronny James connected on 2-of-2 attempts from beyond the arc during garbage time in the final two minutes.
Lakers coach JJ Redick referenced the team’s internal analytics to illustrate just how poor the execution was. According to those metrics, Los Angeles generated 50 potential assists but converted only 21 of them, meaning teammates were missing wide-open looks created by good ball movement. Redick acknowledged this has become a recurring theme for his team.
LeBron James goes cold from distance
LeBron James finished with 22 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, but his stat line included an 0-for-5 performance from 3-point range. The 41-year-old veteran helped the Lakers jump out to an early 8-2 lead in the game’s opening minutes. However, as Sacramento adjusted and Los Angeles’ shooting woes continued, James couldn’t provide the perimeter threat necessary to keep the Kings’ defense honest.
James was blunt in his postgame assessment, using profanity to emphasize that Sacramento simply made shots while the Lakers didn’t. His explanation sidestepped questions about defensive breakdowns, framing the loss as primarily an offensive issue.
Luka Doncic battles through injury for 42 points
Despite dealing with groin discomfort that required in-game treatment, Luka Doncic delivered a remarkable individual performance with 42 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds and 4 steals. The superstar guard scored 40 points through three quarters before Sacramento pulled away in the fourth. It marked the seventh time this season Doncic has eclipsed the 40-point threshold.
Doncic revealed after the game that he was genuinely uncertain about his availability until completing his pregame warmup routine. Both he and James indicated their status for Tuesday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks would depend on how they feel the following morning.
Injuries continue mounting for struggling Lakers
The loss dropped Los Angeles to 23-14 and marked their third consecutive defeat and seventh loss in their past 11 games. Rui Hachimura was listed as available after missing the previous six games with a right calf injury but didn’t play against Sacramento. Redick explained that medical staff informed him Monday morning that Hachimura would only be available for one game of the back-to-back.
Perhaps more significantly, Austin Reaves remains sidelined with a left calf injury that has kept him out for the past two weeks. The guard had been enjoying an All-Star-caliber season before the injury derailed his momentum. Reaves is expected to miss at least another two weeks before returning to action.
Troubling signs before tipoff
Before the game even started, there were indications the Lakers might not be taking their opponent seriously enough. Instead of watching film from their most recent matchup against Sacramento, the team had the NFL playoff game between the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers playing on the locker room television. More than half of the 13 players in uniform skipped the national anthem and pregame lineup introductions.
Redick had addressed this potential mindset issue before tipoff when asked about motivating his team against a Sacramento squad with a 9-30 record. The coach insisted the Lakers don’t view any game as a walkover, though the pregame behavior suggested otherwise.
Story credit: ESPN