Los Angeles Lakers use 4th-quarter run to top Sacramento Kings, improve to 3-0

LOS ANGELES – LeBron James had 32 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, and Anthony Davis became the first Laker since Kobe Bryant in 2005-06 to open the NBA season with three straight 30-plus-point games, as Los Angeles rode a last-quarter surge to down the visiting Sacramento Kings 131-127 on Oct 26.

But James, who scored half of his points in a remarkable three-minute stretch at the start of the fourth quarter, told ESPN: “Listen, I could do that at 22, but at almost 40, I don’t need to be doing it for four quarters.

“I have the luxury of having a MVP (Most Valuable Player)-calibre player next to me (in Anthony Davis). AR (Austin Reaves) can get it going in bunches. D-Lo (D’Angelo Russell) can catch fire. Rui (Hachimura) has been consistent, and he can get going and score in bunches, as well.

“So, this team is not built for me to have 16-point quarters through all four quarters. That’s not how it’s constructed and nor should it be.”

All five Lakers starters scored in double figures. Davis had 31 points after scoring 35 against the Phoenix Suns and 36 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Hachimura had 18 points and nine rebounds, and Reaves and Russell each scored 16 points. Dalton Knecht added 10 points off the bench.

Los Angeles (3-0) came into the game looking to extend the franchise’s longest unbeaten start since the 2010-11 National Basketball Association season, when the Lakers went 8-0.

De’Aaron Fox knocked down a pair of three-pointers to close the third quarter and send the Kings into the final period with a seven-point lead.

The Lakers then went on a 21-0 run to open the fourth quarter. James scored 16 of those points on a variety of shots, including threes.

The other five points in the pivotal run came on a Knecht three to open the scoring and a Jaxson Hayes dunk, before five more points by James gave Los Angeles a 108-94 lead with eight minutes and 23 seconds left.

Said Davis of James: “Just when you think he’s slowing down, man, he continues to show the world why he’s the greatest.

“To go on that stretch, he actually looked to the bench and was trying to come out of the game. We told him, ‘You’re not coming out’. He comes out and hits another three. He never ceases to amaze.”

Lakers coach J.J. Redick added: “We’ve all been very fortunate to watch his greatness for so long, and the fact that he’s able to keep doing it, it’s actually insane.”

Sacramento battled back, outscoring the Lakers 29-17 to cut the deficit to two points in the final minute. DeMar DeRozan scored 13 of his 23 points during that stretch, which was capped by Malik Monk’s lay-up with 55.7sec left that trimmed Los Angeles’ lead to 125-123.

But the Lakers clung on for their first win against the Kings since January 2023.

Domantas Sabonis, who registered 26 triple-doubles last season, led Sacramento with 29 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.

Fox added 28 points and Keegan Murray, Kevin Huerter and Monk each finished with 14.

Over in Detroit, Jayson Tatum piled up 37 points as the visiting Celtics continued their dominance of Pistons with a 124-118 win, with Jaylen Brown adding 24 points.

Cade Cunningham’s lay-up gave Detroit a 112-106 lead with 5:12 remaining but the Celtics closed the game with an 18-6 scoring run, improving to 3-0.

Jrue Holiday made back-to-back threes to pull Boston level at 112-112 and Tatum’s two free throws with 65sec remaining put the defending champions ahead to stay.

Cunningham pulled the Pistons within 120-118 on a free throw with 11sec left but Brown and Tatum sank clutch free throws to seal the victory and the Pistons dropped their third straight to start the season.

In Texas, Frenchman Victor Wembanyama scored 29 points to spark the San Antonio Spurs over Houston 109-106.

Stephon Castle hit a free throw for the Spurs with 7sec remaining and Jalen Green, who led Houston with 29 points, missed a shot at the final buzzer. REUTERS