SACRAMENTO — Luka Dončić had never won in Sacramento as a Laker. In his only visit last January he scored 42 and still lost 124-112, according to Field Level Media. On Wednesday night he scored 40, his third straight 40-point game, and the Lakers beat the Kings 116-103 at Golden 1 Center to improve to 7-2. It was Game 9 of 82.
Sacramento swings first
The Kings came out hot. De’Andre Hunter, Precious Achiuwa and Zach LaVine hit three threes in 2 minutes and 23 seconds, and Sacramento led 16-8 with 7:17 left in the first quarter. Dončić missed five of his first seven shots but kept getting to the line, going 5-for-6 in the quarter. That included three free throws after Emanuel Sharp fouled him on a three with 9.3 seconds left, which put the Lakers up 28-27. It was 28-28 after one.
Four shots, 11 points
It was tied at 46 with 4:43 left in the first half. Then Dončić went to work. He scored the Lakers’ next 11 points in 1 minute and 40 seconds, a 16-foot pull-up followed by threes from 27, 29 and 30 feet. Sacramento scored two points in that stretch and would not lead again. The Lakers took a 61-54 lead to the break, and Dončić had 23.
Timeout, then Luka
LaVine’s bank shot cut it to 73-69 with 6:09 left in the third, and the Lakers called timeout. Dončić came out of it and scored 10 of the Lakers’ next 14 points: a three, a floater, another three and a bank shot. Sacramento scored five in that stretch. The lead was 87-74 after three, with Dončić at 35 points, 12 of them in the quarter.
Kessler lived at the rim
Walker Kessler scored 15 points on six dunks and layups, five of them assisted by Dončić, Austin Reaves or Quentin Grimes. He blocked four shots, stole the ball three times and fouled out with 1:26 left and the Lakers up 16.
As a team, the Lakers blocked 13 shots to Sacramento’s four. Reaves was just as tidy, scoring 21 in 37 minutes with no turnovers and no fouls, and Ziaire Williams and Collin Sexton each added 10 off the bench.
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Sacramento’s last push
The Kings did not fold. Malik Monk hit a three to make it 100-88 and another to make it 101-91, and Sharp followed with a fadeaway three at 4:07 to cut the lead to 101-94. Then Sharp fouled Dončić on another three. He made all three free throws, and the Lakers outscored Sacramento 15-9 the rest of the way.
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What Game 9 answered
Could Dončić win in Sacramento? Yes. Forty points in his 100th game as a Laker, his third straight 40-point game, and his first win in Sacramento in that uniform.
Could the Lakers avoid the trap? Yes. The Kings were fresh off their first win of the season, and they never got closer than seven in the fourth quarter.
Did the turnovers get cleaned up? Yes. The Lakers had 12, down from 24 against Toronto and 16 against Miami, and Sacramento scored only eight points off them after Miami scored 20. Dončić had six, but Reaves and Kessler had none.
Could they guard the three? Better again. Sacramento went 12-for-38 after Golden State made 22 and Miami went 16-for-41.
Could they win the glass? No. Sacramento won the rebounding battle 46-38 and had 15 offensive rebounds, six of them from Domantas Sabonis, who finished with 17 boards. The Kings also won second-chance points, 21-17.
The box score looked like a coin flip. Both teams made 35 field goals. Both teams made 12 threes. The Lakers still won by 13, and they outscored Sacramento by exactly 13 at the free-throw line, 34 to 21. Dončić made 12 of 13 on his own.
Dončić now has 308 points through eight games this season, a 38.5 average, and the Lakers return home Friday for a rematch with Portland, the team that handed them their first loss.
Final: Los Angeles Lakers 116, Sacramento Kings 103
Notable Stats of the Game
Luka Dončić (LAL): 40 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists
Austin Reaves (LAL): 21 points, 4 assists, 0 turnovers
Walker Kessler (LAL): 15 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks
Darius Acuff Jr. (SAC): 22 points, 12 assists
Domantas Sabonis (SAC): 16 points, 17 rebounds
Zach LaVine (SAC): 21 points, 3 three-pointers
Upcoming Game for the Lakers
Portland Trail Blazers @ Los Angeles Lakers (7-2)
Date: Friday, November 6, 2026
Location: Crypto.com Arena • Los Angeles
Tip-Off: 7:00 PM PT