Even with a lineup predominantly composed of backup players, the Lakers managed to secure a 109-101 victory against the Sacramento Kings in their second preseason game.

 

D’Angelo Russell continued to impress, contributing 21 points and eight assists during his 21 minutes on the court. Notably, this marked the first preseason game where D-Lo saw action in the second half. Rui Hachimura continued to showcase his skills as he started the game, tallying 13 points on a 50% shooting performance. The Lakers’ recent addition, Gabe Vincent, left a strong impression by scoring 18 points and making 4 out of 8 three-point attempts.

 

Given the absence of key players like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, and Cam Reddish for this game, it was evident that this matchup aimed to give playing time to the team’s backup players. This was in contrast to their previous game against the Brooklyn Nets, which had a more intense, regular-season-like atmosphere.

 

As the only official starter on the court that night, D’Angelo Russell demonstrated why head coach Darvin Ham has so much confidence in him. He efficiently managed the Lakers’ offense from the very beginning, orchestrating plays with finesse. Russell initiated the game with a no-look assist to Gabe Vincent, attacked the basket, shot an impressive 80% from the field in the first quarter, and recorded five assists in that period alone. He finally took a well-deserved rest at the 3:33 mark, and the fans at the Honda Center showered him with applause while his teammates celebrated his performance with high-fives.

 

Throughout the first half, the Lakers maintained control, even though they were facing the Sacramento Kings, who fielded a starting lineup identical to the one they used in Game 7 against the Warriors, with the exception of Keegan Murray. The Kings did stage a comeback in the second quarter, with both teams exchanging baskets in the closing minutes, and Sacramento managed to hold a one-point lead at halftime.