Anthony Davis dominates as Lakers defeat Kings in Doug Christie's debut
- The Sacramento Kings played their first game since firing head coach Mike Brown, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers 132-122.
- Anthony Davis led the Lakers with an impressive 36 points, while De’Aaron Fox topped the Kings with 29 points.
- With this loss, the Kings extended their losing streak to six games, raising concerns over their performance direction.
On December 28, 2024, the Sacramento Kings faced the Los Angeles Lakers in a game that marked the Kings' first play under interim head coach Doug Christie, following the controversial firing of Mike Brown just 24 hours prior. The game took place in Los Angeles, where despite taking a one-point lead into halftime, the Kings were unable to maintain their advantage through the second half. The Lakers, missing their star player LeBron James due to illness, showcased strong teamwork and scoring depth, ultimately winning the game 132-122. In the third quarter, the Lakers surged ahead by scoring 42 points, outpacing the Kings and establishing a considerable lead. Key contributions came from Anthony Davis, who dominated on the court with 36 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists. Austin Reaves also had a standout performance, scoring 26 points and achieving a career-high of 16 assists. The Kings managed to fight back late in the game, narrowing the Lakers' lead to just six points with fewer than four minutes left; however, the Lakers quickly retaliated to secure their win. De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 29 points despite struggling from three-point range. Though DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis also contributed, their efforts were not enough to overcome the offensive barrage from the Lakers. After the defeat, the Kings extended their losing streak to six games, raising questions about the team's strategy and execution under their new interim coach Christie, who is expected to emphasize better defensive play moving forward. In the coming days, the Kings are scheduled to host the Dallas Mavericks, while the Lakers will continue their home stand against the Cleveland Cavaliers. This loss highlighted the Kings' ongoing struggles and their difficulty in facing the Lakers this season, with the Kings now having lost all four encounters against their rivals in the current season. As the situation unfolds, the Kings will need significant improvement to turn their fortunes around.