With Austin Reaves returning to the lineup, the Lakers picked up their second win over the Kings this preseason, winning 114-110 on Thursday.
LA built up a big lead with the starters and regular rotation members on the court, then watched it chip away in garbage time to make the score much closer than the game ever was.
What was consistent throughout the game was how sloppy the play was as both teams combined for 50 turnovers. LA also struggled on the glass, allowing 20 offensive rebounds. They made up for it by showing up to the queue 38 times.
Luka opened the game with an and-one on the Lakers’ first possession before Austin found a surging Adou Thiero for a dunk to open the game in style for Los Angeles.
Sacramento held an early 10-7 lead, but an 8-0 run with threes from Luka and Jake LaRavia pushed Los Angeles into the lead.
However, it was a first quarter where neither team led by more than five points. Luka lived up to his strong start with 10 points in the opening period, but the rest of the team had 11 as the Lakers led 21-20 after one game.
After falling behind 22-21 early in the second quarter, the Lakers exploded for a 19-3 run to open the game.
Nearly all of the scoring in the run came from beyond the arc with threes coming from LaRavia, Luka, Austin, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Matisse Thybulle.
Mamu was one of the stars of the second half with nine points while Austin really found his rhythm in the frame, scoring six points while dishing out four dimes.
The Lakers’ 15-point lead was cut to 10 points midway through the period, but LA responded with four points from Reaves and layups from Mamu and Kevon Looney to bring it back to 16 points.
At halftime, the Lakers led 57-43.
Adou Thiero continued his strong pre-season by finishing on the brink of a pretty penny from Austin earlier in the third.
After rebuilding a 16-point lead, the Lakers conceded an 8-0 score to cut the deficit in half. Much of Los Angeles’ scoring came at the line, with five free throws and four baskets after the halfway point of the quarter.
Luka was in fine form midway through the season, picking up a technical during a timeout while continuing to express his displeasure with the officials throughout the third. Following a meeting in midfield with Emanuel Sharp which particularly upset Luka, he left the match for good.
Things got very sloppy between the two teams as the Kings came out on top, cutting the lead to five after back-to-back buckets from Precious Achiuwa.
LaRavia and Mamu helped restore some order to bring Los Angeles’ lead back to double digits after a quick break by the former. Mamu then buried a step-back 3-pointer before a 3-pointer off a nice pass from Bronny James to give it an 86-70 lead heading into the fourth.
The Lakers went to a very small lineup in the fourth with Bronny, Adou, Grimes, LaRavia and Thybulle. Eventually, Los Angeles brought in some new faces, including Chris Mañon and Jarred Vanderbilt.
Things got a little out of whack in the final minutes as the Kings made a game of it, getting within four points with 2:00 left. William Kyle and Vando each scored to cut the lead to eight before Hardy and Bronny helped close out the game at the free throw line.
Luka had 23 points in 25 minutes to lead the Lakers. Austin finished with eight points but had eight assists and six rebounds.
Mamu finished with 19 points coming off the bench while LaRavia scored 14 points, three rebounds and two assists. Adou Thiero had six points and Quentin Grimes finished with 12.
The Lakers will be back in action on Tuesday when they take on the Warriors in Las Vegas at 7 p.m. PT.
You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcariens.
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