The Los Angeles Lakers began a demanding five-game, seven-day run with a 124-112 defeat to the Sacramento Kings on Monday night, extending their losing streak to three.
Playing at Golden 1 Center on Jan. 12, 2026, Los Angeles was without guard Dennis Schroder, who served a one-game suspension stemming from a Dec. 28 altercation with Luka Doncic. The absence proved costly as Sacramento seized control early and never relinquished it.
Hot start, cold finish for L.A.
LeBron James opened the contest with six straight points, and Los Angeles raced to an 8-2 edge that forced an early Kings timeout. Doncic followed with a string of mid-range jumpers, a spinning layup and a three-pointer, but Sacramento answered with a 7-0 burst and finished the first quarter ahead, 32-28.
The Lakers’ offense stalled to close the first period and into the second, while former Laker Malik Monk caught fire, drilling five consecutive threes to push the Kings’ advantage to double digits. Doncic’s buzzer-beating three cut the halftime margin to 61-54, giving him 26 points at the break.
Kings pull away after halftime
DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook powered an 18-5 Sacramento run to open the third quarter, widening the gap to 20. Doncic remained the lone consistent scorer for Los Angeles, trimming the deficit to 95-83 entering the fourth.
Gabe Vincent knocked down back-to-back threes early in the final period, and two free throws from James brought the Lakers within single digits. Sacramento responded immediately, as DeRozan and Monk combined to keep the hosts comfortably in front and seal the victory.
Up next
The Lakers return to Crypto.com Arena for the second night of a back-to-back on Tuesday against the Atlanta Hawks, followed by a home meeting with the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday.
Source: LakersNation.com
