Lakers win 20th game of season in energetic win over Kings, snap three game skid

LOS ANGELES — The energy is back and so are the Los Angeles Lakers (for now), returning to the win column and snapping a three-game skid on Sunday in a 125-101 win over the bottom-seed Sacramento Kings, pushing their record to 20-10 at the 30-game mark.

The win also snapped three straight losses at home, improving them to 8-5 at Crypto.com Arena this season and 13-3 against teams under .500.

Tone setting was what head coach JJ Redick emphasized in his pregame presser from Luka Dončić and LeBron James, with Austin Reaves sidelined for the next month. And they did just that and more against the second-worst-standing team in the West.

The duo opened up the first quarter by combining for 19 of the Lakers' 30 points. And they continued on to beat the Kings in every quarter—a feat the Lakers had not done prior.

"It was our first game we've had all year where we've won all four quarters," Redick said. "Overall it was just consistent basketball for 48 minutes."

While Dončić poured in 24 first-half points, James, who turns 41 in two days, flashed the most explosiveness he has had all season, connecting on two alley-oops on the night—one of which rocked the sold-out arena after staring down the crowd following one of the oops.

James had his way in Sacramento's paint, connecting on 11 of his 14 shots, posting a season-high 84% from the field as he finished with 24 points.

The Lakers' high energy and effort carried over to the second half, immediately jumping out to a 13-2 run to open the second half. A big reason for that run was thanks to guard Nick Smith Jr. starting off hot, hitting his first seven shots, four coming from 3-pointers, where he, at one point, had 18 points in 10 minutes played.

"I'm just in a space where I'm just locked in right now. Trying to do what I can to help this team win," Smith Jr. said, who finished with 21 points in 23 minutes. "I try to prepare every day like it's gameday."

Before the game, Redick mentioned Smith Jr. would have more opportunities to fill in the void of Reaves.

"He helped us win tonight," Redick said on Smith Jr. "It's why we wanted him on the Lakers and part of our program because we know he can score."

The Lakers continued their punch in the fourth quarter, reaching their biggest lead (30) and closing out the game with 15 3-pointers (third most this season) and 14 steals.

Redick hinted at tweaking the lineup, doing so by taking out Dončić two minutes before the end of the first quarter as opposed to his normal game-by-game of playing the whole first quarter. 

Dončić had more burst in his step in the second quarter, finishing the night with 34 points (five rebounds, seven assists), his 10th 30-point game of the season.

The Lakers continue their five-game homestand on Tuesday against the Detroit Pistons and then have back-to-back games versus the Memphis Grizzlies.