Either it’s an obstacle or it’s a wall. THE Lakers I couldn’t be sure.
Now they are.
The Sacramento Kings fully have the Lakers’ number, one team completely dominating the other in a series that has been heavily tilted against Los Angeles over the past two seasons.
The Lakers’ 120-107 loss at Sacramento on Wednesday night exposed many of the problems that haunt them against the Kings, who have too many shots. Too much speed. Too much harshness.
For the Lakers, too many unanswered questions.
It doesn’t matter that the Kings play Milwaukee on Tuesday night or are missing starting goaltender Kevin Huerter and key reserve Trey Lyles.
Anthony Davis, one of the NBA’s best players on both ends of the court and perhaps the Laker’s most important, lost again to his counterpart Domantas Sabonis, a player Davis has never beaten in 10 tries. Sabonis bullied Davis into the block, spun, elbowed him in the jaw and scored, the Kings center running back while Davis remained on the field.
This wouldn’t be the only time he knocked Davis down.
LeBron Jamesthe benefactor of two days’ rest, came out of the huddle on the next play and turned the ball over for the third time in the third quarter, leading to an easy Kings fast break.
D’Angelo Russell, the Lakers’ hot guard, went cold as ice in Sacramento, who graciously didn’t play that song this time around, as he missed his first seven shots before scoring three in the fourth quarter.
The Lakers cut the Kings’ lead to nine in the fourth, a glimmer of momentum. But Sacramento, as it has throughout the season, easily broke down the Lakers and made three straight shots, including one from Malik Monk on an offensive rebound. Harrison Barnes had three more second chances after Sabonis grabbed a rebound off Davis.
Only Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura gave the Lakers an offensive boost, with Reaves scoring 28 points and Hachimura finishing with 20 on nine-of-11 shooting.
James and Davis totaled 40 points, but they made 16 and 18 shots, respectively.
The Lakers (36-31) will play another key game in their playoff race Saturday against the Golden State Warriors in Los Angeles.
