Luka Doncic scores 42, but Lakers lose to hot-shooting Kings

SACRAMENTO — Luka Doncic had another big night for the Lakers, but it wasn’t enough to keep them from a second straight loss against a hot-shooting opponent.

DeMar DeRozan had 32 points and six assists, while former Laker Malik Monk made seven 3-pointers and scored 26 points to help the Sacramento Kings hand the Lakers a 124-112 defeat on Monday night at the Golden 1 Center.

Former Laker Russell Westbrook added 22 points and seven assists for the Kings (10-30), who shot 17 for 26 from 3-point range to win their second straight after a seven-game skid.

Doncic paced the Lakers with 42 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, but he scored just two points in the fourth quarter and looked slower after having his left thigh wrapped at the end of the third quarter. Doncic said issue, which he was aware of going into the game, is somewhere in the inner thigh or groin area.

“Yeah, I was really uncertain. Before the game, I felt something,” said Doncic, who said he was unsure if he would play before the game. “But tomorrow, we’ll see how I wake up.”

LeBron James had 22 points on 8-for-17 shooting but missed all five of his 3-point attempts on a night when the Lakers shot 8 for 36 from behind the arc.

“It’s literally we can’t make a shot,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.

The Kings were sizzling from everywhere, shooting 59% from the field.

“I think we played solid defense,” James said. “I mean, they made a bunch of threes. We didn’t make many, but I thought we played. We had our game plan, we executed our game plan. Tonight was just one of those cases where we didn’t make shots.”

DeRozan abused the Lakers from inside the arc, shooting 14 for 19 overall. Monk (7 for 9), Westbrook (4 for 8) and Zach LaVine (3 for 4) did the bulk of the Kings’ damage from 3-point range.

The Lakers trailed the entire second half – by as much as 20 points in the third quarter – but closed within 102-95 early in the fourth before a 3-pointer by Monk helped the Kings pull away.

“We faced a hot-shooting team tonight,” Redick said.

DeAndre Ayton scored 13 points and Jaxson Hayes added 12 points for the Lakers (23-11), who were playing the first game of a stretch of three in four nights and five in a seven-day stretch.

The Lakers got the early edge, but they couldn’t contain an energized Sacramento team that never trailed over the final 38 minutes while beating the Lakers for the first time in three games this season.

The Kings rallied from eight points down in the first quarter to lead 57-41 late in the second after Monk’s fifth 3-pointer of the game.

James and Doncic – who had his seventh 40-point game of the season – kept the Lakers close, combining for 38 of the Lakers’ 54 points in the first half.

The Kings began the third quarter with a 19-6 run and opened their 20-point lead on their way to the win.

Rui Hachimura is expected to make his return from right calf soreness in Tuesday’s home game against the Atlanta Hawks. He was available to play Monday, but he sat out his seventh consecutive game, with Redick saying he is on a minutes restriction and would only be available for one of the two back-to-back games.

Whether James plays on the second night of a back-to-back set will be determined.

It was the Kings’ first home win against the Lakers since March 13, 2024.

HISTORIC WARDROBE UPDATE

James wore a patch on his jersey commemorating his historic 23rd NBA season in the city where he played his first NBA game. It features a silhouette of his pregame chalk toss and three colored stripes that represent the three franchises he has played for – the Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.

He will wear the patch for the remainder of the season. After each game, the patch will be removed from his jersey, dated and shipped to a Topps’ production facility to be authenticated and inserted into a pack of trading cards.

UP NEXT

The Lakers host Atlanta on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

"Literally, we can't make a shot… this has been the theme."

JJ Redick talks with the media after the Lakers drop their 3rd straight game, losing 124-112 in Sacramento. #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/Rvh8t2m3sY

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) January 13, 2026

Luka Dončić (42 PTS, 7 REB, 8 AST, 4 STL) speaks to the media after the Lakers suffer their third straight defeat, losing to the Kings 124-112. #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/rb4sTCHMuO

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) January 13, 2026

"Tonight was one of those cases where we didn't make shots." #LakeShow

LeBron James (22 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST, STL) talks with the media after the Lakers fall in Sacramento 124-112 for their 3rd straight loss. Get closer to the action with Spectrum SportsNet+.
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— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) January 13, 2026