Item 1 of 5 Dec 28, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) is defended by Sacramento Kings guard Nique Clifford (5) in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
[1\/5]Dec 28, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) is defended by Sacramento Kings guard Nique Clifford (5) in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab<\/a><\/p>\n December 29 – Luka Doncic scored 34 points and the Los Angeles Lakers ended a three-game skid with a 125-101 win over the visiting Sacramento Kings on Sunday.<\/p>\n Doncic hit five 3-pointers, while also chalking up seven assists and three steals.<\/p>\n LeBron James posted 24 points on 11-of-13 shooting, while Nick Smith Jr. added 21 off the bench, including five 3-pointers.<\/p>\n James’ night ended early when he hurt his right lower back in a collision with DeMar DeRozan, exiting the game with 5:43 remaining in the fourth quarter, a concern for the Lakers who are without Austin Reaves for at least a month with a left calf injury.<\/p>\n DeRozan had 22 points for Sacramento, while Maxime Raynaud paired 16 points with 10 rebounds, and Russell Westbrook contributed 13 points.<\/p>\n James was lively early with 10 first-quarter points, highlighted by a spectacular alley-oop slam from Marcus Smart’s no-look lob.<\/p>\n James’ 22-foot pull-up jumper on the buzzer put Los Angeles up 30-24 after one.<\/p>\n James, who turns 41 in two days, threw down an even better dunk in the second frame, a baseline reverse special off Doncic’s pinpoint pass from beyond halfcourt.<\/p>\n Doncic had 14 points in the quarter and 23 for the half as the Lakers increased their advantage to 68-53.<\/p>\n Los Angeles hit 14 of 20 from the floor in the second period, and 25 of 40 at the main break.<\/p>\n James had his third dunk of the evening early in the third – finishing a Deandre Ayton lob – as the Lakers continued to thrive after intermission.<\/p>\n The 23-year veteran buried a 3-pointer to cap a 21-4 run either side of halftime to blow the margin out to 81-55.<\/p>\n Smart scored eight straight points in 53 seconds to recover the 26-point lead before the Kings closed to 99-80 with a period to play, finishing the third frame with a Nique Clifford three.<\/p>\n James’ fourth dunk, 3-pointers from Rui Hachimura and Doncic, and a pair of free throws from Jake LaRavia capped a 13-2 burst which saw the home side’s cushion balloon to 118-90.<\/p>\n –Field Level Media<\/p>\n Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab<\/a><\/p>\n