Lakers vs. Kings Preview and Game Thread: Eyeing for a season sweep

The Lakers can sweep the season series against the Kings on Saturday for the first time since the 2009-10 season

The Lakers will face the Sacramento Kings for the final time this season — and their third meeting in eight days — in Los Angeles. The purple and gold are aiming to sweep a division rival for the first time this season.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings

When: 7:30 p.m. PT, Dec 28

Where: Crypto.com Arena

Watch: Spectrum Sportsnet

Fresh off their Christmas win against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, the Lakers are back home where they will play their next four games. The first will be against the same Kings team who are at an even worse state compared to when the purple and gold last faced them just...uh....six days ago. Sacramento has continued to hit rock bottom and just fired their coach.

But the danger in the Kings’ current demise is that you don’t know which version will show up to Crypto.com Arena on Saturday. It’ll either be the one that’s going to play extremely desperate basketball to the point that they’ll once again give the Lakers a run for their money or the one that will play with no fight just because they know they’ve lost five in a row and to three times already to this Lakers team this season.

Nevertheless, it’s the Lakers’ responsibility to prepare for whichever version shows up, and they can do that by carrying over their game plan from their last two victories against them. The common denominator between those two victories was that the Lakers owned the paint, led by Anthony Davis and LeBron James, winning not just the rebounding battle but also the paint battle.

Davis — who sustained a sprained ankle injury against the Warriors but said he’ll be ready to go for this one — was a huge reason why the Lakers won those last two games. Yes, he missed those two clutch free throws and scored just 10 points in one of those games but his defensive presence was instrumental, especially against Domantas Sabonis.

Another common denominator in those two previous victories was that Los Angeles’ role players outplayed the Kings’. It’ll be nice to see Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Max Christie and company continue to shine, especially in this home stretch.

The best way the role players can do that is to outproduce the Kings’ key players on offense because, as we witnessed this season, Sacramento crumbles when their offense can’t make up for their putrid defense. And speaking of crumbling down, that’s currently happening in the Kings organization after they just lost in the worst way possible to Detroit Pistons on Thursday.

So while I don’t want to tempt fate or even jinx the Lakers, I’d like to just say that they can continue their misery. It’s time to capitalize on the Kings’ downfall and sweep the season series against them on Saturday.

Notes and Updates

• Speaking of season sweeps, the last time the Lakers did exactly that to the Kings was in the 2009-10 season. It’ll be nice to do it this year, given that Sacramento did it last season.
• For the Lakers’ injury report, D’Angelo Russell (left thumb sprain) is probable. Anthony Davis (left ankle), LeBron James (left foot injury management), Rui Hachimura (illness), Jaxson Haynes (right ankle contusion) are questionable.
• Meanwhile, Jalen Hood-Schifino (left hamstring strain), Jarred Vanderbilt (right foot surgery recovery) and Christian Wood (left knee surgery recovery) are all out.
• As for the Kings, Domantas Sabonis (illness) is listed as questionable.
• We will be live on Playback for this game, so be sure to join us!

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.