LeBron James blames three pointers for NBA's declining fan interest

On Saturday, December 21, 2024, in Sacramento, California, LeBron James put on an impressive performance, scoring 32 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a tight 103-99 victory over the Sacramento Kings. This victory marked the conclusion of a two-game sweep for the Lakers, following a previous win against the Kings, where they triumphed 113-100 just a few days earlier on December 19. Austin Reaves also contributed significantly to the win, scoring 16 points, while Anthony Davis recorded 10 points and an impressive 15 rebounds. Despite their collective efforts, the Kings struggled, particularly during the closing moments of the game as they failed to capitalize on key opportunities. De'Aaron Fox emerged as Sacramento's top scorer with 31 points, supported by Domantas Sabonis with 19 points and 19 rebounds, and DeMar DeRozan with 12 points. Notably, Anthony Davis achieved a milestone by surpassing Kobe Bryant to achieve the fifth most blocks in Lakers franchise history with a total of 642 blocks. Both teams shot poorly from beyond the arc, with the Kings slightly edging the Lakers in three-point shooting percentage, at 27% compared to the Lakers' 25.7%. Despite turning the ball over 10 times in the first quarter, the Lakers managed to improve their ball control in the latter part of the game, committing only four turnovers in the remaining three quarters. The Kings, under head coach Mike Brown, started the game poorly, making turnovers and fouls that ultimately cost them a chance to secure a win. Following the game, the Lakers are set to host the Detroit Pistons on Monday, while the Kings will face the Indiana Pacers on short rest the same day.