The Los Angeles Lakers hit the road for the first time this season as they travel north to Sacramento to face the Kings at Golden 1 Center on Sunday night. After bouncing back from an opening night disappointment with a dominant performance against Minnesota, the Lakers aim to prove their resurgence was no fluke and build their first winning streak of the young season.
Both teams enter Sunday’s Pacific Division showdown at 1-1, each having split their first two games in nearly identical fashion. The Lakers fell to Golden State in their opener before dismantling the Timberwolves 128-110 on Friday night. Meanwhile, the Kings dropped their season opener in Phoenix before edging the Utah Jazz 105-104 in a thrilling home contest that came down to the final possession.
The narrative surrounding this matchup centers squarely on one player: Luka Dončić. The Slovenian superstar has been nothing short of spectacular in his first two games as a Laker, and he is rewriting franchise history with each trip down the floor. After dropping 43 points in a losing effort against the Warriors, Dončić followed up with an even more impressive 49-point masterpiece against Minnesota. His combined 92 points through two games shattered a franchise record that had stood for 54 years, previously held by the legendary Jerry West.
Even more remarkably, Dončić became the first player in Lakers history to open a season with consecutive 40-point performances. Only three other players in NBA history have accomplished this feat: Wilt Chamberlain, who did it twice for different franchises, Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls, and Anthony Davis during his time with the New Orleans Pelicans. Chamberlain holds the all-time record with seven consecutive 40-point games to start the 1963 season, a mark that Dončić will have the opportunity to chase as the season progresses.
The question heading into Sunday’s contest is whether Dončić will even take the floor. The Lakers’ injury report lists him as questionable with a left finger sprain, an ailment that could potentially sideline the team’s offensive catalyst. If Dončić is unable to play, the Lakers would be without both of their superstars, as LeBron James remains sidelined with sciatica and is targeting a mid-November return. The absence of Dončić would place an enormous burden on Austin Reaves, who has been excellent in his own right with 25 points and 11 assists in Friday’s victory, and the rest of the supporting cast to step up in a hostile road environment.
Interestingly, despite his otherworldly start to the season, Dončić has historically struggled against Sacramento. In 17 career meetings with the Kings, he has never recorded a 40-point game and has been held under 30 points in his last seven matchups with them. In seven career games at Golden 1 Center, Dončić has averaged just 25.3 points. However, those numbers came while he was with different teams, and this will mark his first encounter with the Kings as a member of the Lakers. Given his current form and the way he has embraced his role as the team’s leader with James sidelined, past trends may prove irrelevant.
The Lakers showed significant improvement in several key areas during Friday’s victory. Most notably, they finally found success in the third quarter, a period that has plagued them in recent seasons. Los Angeles outscored Minnesota 40-31 in the third frame, maintaining and extending their lead rather than watching it evaporate as has so often been the case. The ball movement was crisp, the defense showed signs of cohesion, and perhaps most importantly, the team played with the physicality and energy that head coach JJ Redick has been demanding.
Redick emphasized postgame that Friday’s performance provided the perfect template to build upon, especially as the team embarks on its first road trip. The challenge now is consistency. Can the Lakers replicate that level of intensity and execution in a tougher environment against a Kings team that will be hungry to defend their home court? Sacramento has made Golden 1 Center a difficult place to play in recent years, and early-season matchups between these two teams have consistently come down to the wire.
The Kings present a unique challenge with their roster construction. While many analysts question the fit of their pieces, Sacramento possesses an abundance of microwave scorers capable of getting hot at any moment. Zach LaVine, who joined the Kings in the offseason, led the way with 31 points in Friday’s win over Utah. Malik Monk added 20 points, showcasing the depth of scoring threats the Lakers’ defense must account for. Domantas Sabonis, returning from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the season opener, contributed 12 points and 12 rebounds in nearly 37 minutes, including the game-winning putback that sealed the victory.
The matchup between DeAndre Ayton and Sabonis should be particularly compelling. Sabonis is one of the league’s most physical and offensively skilled big men, presenting a significant test for Ayton’s ability to defend the paint while staying out of foul trouble. On the offensive end, Ayton should have opportunities to exploit Sacramento’s defensive weaknesses. The Kings rank 28th in the NBA in opponent rebounds per game, suggesting that Dončić and the Lakers should have ample second-chance opportunities if they crash the glass aggressively.
Another intriguing subplot involves the return of two former Lakers to Sacramento. Russell Westbrook and Dennis Schroder both made their home debuts for the Kings on Friday, combining for 24 points in the victory. Westbrook was even given the honor of lighting Sacramento’s iconic purple beam after the game, a tradition reserved for home victories. Both veterans will be motivated to perform well against their former team, adding another layer of intensity to an already competitive rivalry.
History favors the Lakers in this matchup, at least in the recent past. Los Angeles swept the season series 4-0 last year, avenging a 4-0 sweep by Sacramento the previous season. All four games during the 2024-25 campaign occurred before the end of the calendar year, including a back-to-back set in Sacramento where the Lakers prevailed 113-100 and 103-99. However, those victories came with a vastly different roster configuration, featuring Anthony Davis before his trade to Dallas and a healthy LeBron James.
The Kings will also be dealing with their own injury concerns. Keegan Murray is out with a thumb injury, and Nique Clifford is sidelined with a hamstring strain. Most significantly, Zach LaVine is listed as questionable with an illness, which could rob Sacramento of its leading scorer from Friday’s game. If LaVine is unable to play, the offensive burden would fall more heavily on Sabonis, Monk, and the rest of the Kings’ supporting cast.
For the Lakers, this game represents an important measuring stick. Road games are always more difficult, and Sacramento’s raucous home crowd will provide a stark contrast to the friendly confines of Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers are also playing the first game of a back-to-back, which adds another layer of complexity to their preparation and rotation management. Redick will need to balance the desire to secure a victory with the need to keep his players fresh for the next contest.
The betting markets have installed the Lakers as 2.5-point favorites, with the over/under set around 227 points. Those numbers suggest oddsmakers expect a competitive, relatively high-scoring affair. If Dončić plays, he is projected to score around 32 points, well below his current average but still a significant contribution. The spread also indicates that despite playing on the road, the Lakers are viewed as the superior team when both squads are relatively healthy.
The keys to victory for Los Angeles are straightforward but not necessarily easy to execute. First and foremost, they must bring the same energy and physicality that characterized Friday’s performance. Road environments can sap a team’s intensity, and the Kings will feed off their home crowd’s energy. The Lakers cannot afford a slow start or a lapse in focus during any quarter, particularly the third, which has been problematic in the past.
Defensively, the Lakers must contain Sacramento’s array of scoring threats without overhelping and leaving shooters open on the perimeter. While the Kings rank 28th in three-point attempts, suggesting they prefer to score inside or in the midrange, they still have capable shooters who can punish defensive breakdowns. Ayton will be crucial in protecting the rim and controlling the defensive glass, areas where Sacramento has shown vulnerability.
Offensively, if Dončić plays, the Lakers need to ensure he receives adequate support from his teammates. Reaves has been excellent, and Rui Hachimura provided a crucial spark off the bench with 23 points on Friday. The Lakers’ offense is at its best when multiple players are contributing, and they cannot afford to become overly reliant on Dončić’s individual brilliance, especially if he is playing through injury. Ball movement and player movement will be essential to generating quality shots against a Kings defense that, while not elite, is capable of making things difficult when locked in.
If Dončić is unable to play, the Lakers will need a collective effort unlike anything they have shown so far this season. Reaves would likely assume primary ball-handling and scoring responsibilities, with Hachimura, Ayton, and others needing to step up significantly. It would be a tall task to win on the road without both James and Dončić, but it would also provide valuable information about the team’s depth and resilience.
Sunday’s game tips off at 9:00 PM Eastern Time, with coverage available on Spectrum SportsNet and NBCS-CA. For Lakers fans, the hope is that their team can build on Friday’s encouraging performance and establish some early-season momentum. For the Kings and their faithful supporters, this represents an opportunity to defend their home court and prove that their opening night loss was merely a bump in the road.
As the Lakers seek their first winning streak and first road victory of the season, they face a Kings team equally motivated to build on their dramatic comeback win over Utah. With potential injury questions surrounding both teams’ key players and the unpredictable nature of early-season basketball, Sunday night in Sacramento promises to be an intriguing battle between two Pacific Division rivals searching for their identity in the early stages of a long season.
