Luka Doncic scores 42, but Lakers lose to hot-shooting Kings

SACRAMENTO — Luka Doncic had another big night for the Lakers, but it wasn’t enough to keep them from a second straight loss.

DeMar DeRozan had 32 points and six assists, while Malik Monk made seven 3-pointers and scored 26 points to help the Sacramento Kings hand the Lakers a 124-112 defeat on Monday night at the Golden 1 Center.

Russell Westbrook, who played 78 games for the Lakers in 2023, added 22 points and seven assists for the Kings (10-30), who shot 17 for 26 from 3-point range to win their second straight after a seven-game skid.

Doncic paced the Lakers with 42 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, but he scored just two points in the fourth quarter and looked slower after having his left thigh wrapped at the end of the third quarter. It was the seventh 40-point game of the season for the NBA’s leading scorer.

LeBron James had 22 points on 8-for-17 shooting but missed all five of his 3-point attempts on a night when the Lakers shot 8 for 36 from behind the arc.

DeAndre Ayton scored 13 points to reach 7,000 for his career. Jaxson Hayes added 12 points for the Lakers (23-11), who were playing the first game of a stretch of three in four nights and five over seven days.

The Lakers got the early edge, but they couldn’t contain an energized Sacramento team that never trailed over the final 38 minutes. Sacramento beat the Lakers for the first time in three games this season.

The Kings rallied from eight points down in the first quarter to lead 57-41 late in the second after Monk’s fifth 3-pointer of the game.

James and Doncic kept the Lakers close, combining for 38 of the Lakers’ 54 points in the first half.

The Kings began the third quarter with a 19-6 run and opened a 20-point lead on the way to the lopsided victory.

The Lakers trailed the entire second half but closed within 102-95 early in the fourth quarter before a 3-pointer by Monk helped the Kings pull away.

Rui Hachimura could make his return from right calf soreness in Tuesday’s home game against the Atlanta Hawks. He was available to play Monday, but he sat out his seventh consecutive game.

Whether James plays on the second night of a back-to-back set will be determined.

It was the Kings’ first home win against the Lakers since March 13, 2024.

More to come on this story.

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The Lakers host Atlanta on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.