Luka Doncic scores 42+7+8 but it’s in vain as LeBron James adds 22 points; Lakers fall to Kings, suffering a third consecutive loss.

On January 13th, in the NBA regular season, the Kings comfortably defeated the Lakers 124-112 on their home court, marking the Lakers’ third consecutive loss.

For the Kings, DeRozan contributed 32 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals; Monk added 26 points and 8 assists; Westbrook posted 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists; LaVine scored 19 points; and Reaves had 11 points. On the Lakers’ side, Doncic tallied 42 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4 steals; LeBron scored 22 points; Ayton recorded a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds plus 2 blocks; and Hayes added 12 points and 5 rebounds.

In the first quarter, LeBron was in excellent form, making all of his first four shots, while Doncic also showed great performance. The LeBron-Doncic duo combined for 16 of the Lakers’ first 17 points, helping them take an early lead at 17-10. However, the Kings quickly launched a fierce comeback, especially LaVine who scored the last 9 points of the quarter, turning the tide in favor of the Kings. By the end of the quarter, the Kings led 32-28.

In the second quarter, Monk finally exploded, hitting three consecutive three-pointers, while DeRozan intensified his attacks inside the paint, helping the Kings extend their lead to 10 points. During this period, Doncic was highly efficient, scoring 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting, which accounted for more than half of the Lakers’ points in the quarter, but the rest of the team underperformed, allowing the Kings to widen the gap. At halftime, the Kings led 61-54.

In the third quarter, the Kings continued their sharp three-point shooting, with Westbrook, LaVine, and Reaves hitting multiple shots from beyond the arc, making it difficult for the Lakers to respond. When Westbrook nailed another three-pointer, the Kings surged ahead by 20 points at 89-69. Towards the end of the quarter, the LeBron-Doncic duo combined to reduce the deficit somewhat. The quarter ended with the Kings leading 95-83.

In the final quarter, Vincent sparked a comeback from outside, signaling the Lakers’ counterattack as they closed in to 97-105. At a crucial moment, DeRozan stepped up with consecutive scoring plays and a key and-one, helping the Kings push the lead back to 112-98. The Kings maintained composure for the remainder of the game and secured the win as expected.

Starting Lineups

Kings: DeRozan, Achiuwa, Reaves, LaVine, Westbrook

Lakers: LeBron James, LaRavia, Ayton, Smart, Doncic