DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook have gone up against Luka Doncic and LeBron James many times over the course of their careers.
Younger, less experienced players such as Nique Clifford, Maxime Raynaud, Devin Carter and Daeqwon Plowden will find out what that’s like when the Sacramento Kings conclude a five-game road trip against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday at Cyrpto.com Arena.
The Kings are relying heavily on their younger players with Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray and De’Andre Hunter out due to injuries. Sacramento will put its youth movement to the test against two of the NBA’s biggest stars.
The Kings (14-47) have won two of three since ending a franchise-record 16-game losing streak. Precious Achiuwa scored a career-high 29 points in Thursday’s 130-121 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
The Lakers (35-24) will be on the second night of a back-to-back after beating the Golden State Warriors 129-101 on Saturday at Chase Center in San Francisco to end a three-game losing streak.
Doncic is averaging 32.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.6 assists for the Lakers. Austin Reaves averages 24.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists. James is averaging 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 7.0 assists.
The Lakers beat the Kings 127-120 on Oct. 26 in Sacramento and 125-101 on Dec. 28 in Los Angeles. The Kings beat the Lakers 124-112 on Jan. 12 in Sacramento.
Reaves scored 51 points in the Oct. 26 victory over the Kings. Doncic scored 34 points in the Dec. 28 game and 42 in the Jan. 12 game.
Kings at Lakers
When: 6:30 p.m.
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV: NBC Sports California
Radio: Sactown Sports 1140
Odds: Lakers -12.5
Over/under: 232.5
Injury report
Kings: OUT – Dylan Cardwell (ankle); De’Andre Hunter (eye); Zach LaVine (finger); Keegan Murray (ankle); Domantas Sabonis (knee); Isaiah Stevens (G League).
Lakers: Not yet submitted.Cardwell (ankle); De’Andre Hunter (eye); Zach LaVine (finger); Keegan Murray (ankle); Domantas Sabonis (knee); Isaiah Stevens (G League).
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Jason Anderson is The Sacramento Bee’s Kings beat writer. He is a Sacramento native and a graduate of Fresno State, where he studied journalism and college basketball under the late Jerry Tarkanian.