The Lakers beat the Kings 116-103, their third win over Sacramento this season, and Luka Doncic scored 40. The Kings cut the deficit to seven in the fourth quarter, then gave up a 9-0 run.
Oct. 5
The first meeting set the tone: a 127-103 loss. Twenty-four points was the widest of the three margins, and it showed how far the Kings were from the Lakers before a regular-season game was played. Wednesday's margin was 13.
Oct. 8
Three days later the Kings lost 114-110, the closest of the three. They had a chance and did not finish it. That is the pattern the 1-7 record keeps repeating: the game stays within reach until one stretch decides it.
Nov. 2
The Kings finally won, 115-100 in Dallas, and the bench carried it. Wednesday brought the same questions back. Los Angeles led by as many as 18, the Kings never led by more than eight, and the 1-7 record is still the fourth-worst problem in a short season, not a footnote.
Wednesday night
The game turned in the second half. Los Angeles ran off a 10-0 stretch in the third quarter to lead 83-69, and the Kings still trimmed it to 101-94 with under four minutes left. Then a 9-0 run made it 110-94. Doncic made 12 of 13 free throws, and Austin Reaves added 21 with a plus-14. Sabonis finished with 16 points and 17 rebounds, yet was a minus-17. Hunter was minus-15 in 38 minutes. Darius Acuff Jr. had 12 assists but shot 8 for 24 with four turnovers. Zach LaVine scored 21 and also turned it over six times. Malik Monk scored nine of his 13 in the fourth, but he shot 5 for 16. The starters scored 80 of the 103, and the bench gave 23.
What was the score of the Kings-Lakers game on Nov. 4?
The Lakers won 116-103. Luka Doncic scored 40 points, and Darius Acuff Jr. led Sacramento with 22 points and 12 assists.
Where do the Kings stand after the loss to the Lakers?
They are 1-7 and the 14th seed, five games back of sixth place and three behind tenth. Their only win came Nov. 2 at Dallas.
