On December 29, 2024, Beijing time, the NBA regular season saw the 17-win and 13-loss Lakers host the 13-win and 18-loss Kings. This was the fourth meeting between the two teams this season, with the Lakers winning all three previous encounters. Could the Kings turn the tide today? LeBron James and Hayes were absent from the Lakers lineup, with the starting lineup consisting of Reeves, Vincent, Christie, Hachimura, and Davis. The Kings started with Fox, Monk, DeRozan, Murray, and Sabonis.
In the first quarter, Reeves hit a three-pointer, followed by Fox's mid-range shot. Reeves and Davis scored, giving the Lakers a 7-2 lead. Monk then scored five consecutive points, to which Christie and Davis responded, maintaining a five-point lead. Fox and Monk continued to score, but Christie, Davis, and Hachimura kept the Lakers ahead by five points. Murray and Ellis hit three-pointers, allowing the Kings to take a one-point lead. However, Hachimura, Russell, Davis, and Knickert scored in succession, helping the Lakers regain a ten-point advantage. Hield, Fox, and Len scored for the Kings, but Reeves responded with five straight points. The first quarter ended with the Lakers leading 40-31.
The second quarter saw DeRozan score continuously, to which Knickert and Christie responded, keeping the Lakers six points ahead. Hield and DeRozan narrowed the gap to one point, but Hachimura and Knickert extended it back to six points. Sabonis and Ellis brought the deficit down to two points. There was no scoring for the next two minutes until Murray dunked to tie the game. Hachimura hit a three-pointer, and Davis scored repeatedly, while Monk, DeRozan, and Lyles tried to catch up. The Lakers led by one point. Reeves and Knickert added to the Lakers' score, while Lyles and Fox tried to close the gap. At halftime, the Kings led 66-65.
In the third quarter, Sabonis scored four points, followed by six points from Reeves and Christie, putting the Lakers back in the lead by one point. Fox, Sabonis, and DeRozan scored for the Kings, but Davis, Hachimura, and Reeves responded strongly, giving the Lakers a three-point lead. DeRozan made a mid-range shot, but Hachimura and Christie continued to score, extending the Lakers' lead to ten points. DeRozan, Ellis, and Monk scored for the Kings, but Russell and Davis responded, maintaining an eleven-point lead. Fox and DeRozan scored again, but Davis, Reddish, and Reeves responded, increasing the lead to seventeen points. The third quarter ended with the Lakers leading 107-90.
The fourth quarter began with Knickert hitting a three-pointer, giving the Lakers a twenty-point lead. DeRozan and Len scored for the Kings, but Knickert and Reeves responded, keeping the lead at twenty points. Sabonis, Fox, and Ellis narrowed the gap to eight points, but Knickert scored four more points. Hield and Monk added five points for the Kings, reducing the deficit to seven points. Davis scored repeatedly, while Monk and Fox tried to catch up, leaving a six-point difference. Reeves and Christie extended the lead to eleven points. Fox scored again, but Reeves and Davis responded, maintaining a ten-point lead with 38 seconds left in the game. The suspense faded, and the Lakers ultimately won 132-122 over the Kings. This marked a 4-0 sweep of the Kings this season, reversing last season's outcome where the Kings swept the Lakers 4-0. The Lakers have created a miracle.
Davis scored 36 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists on 12 out of 16 shooting. Reeves had a career-high 16 assists, scoring 26 points with 6 rebounds and 9 out of 16 shooting. Hachimura scored 21 points with 4 rebounds and 2 blocks on 7 out of 11 shooting. Christie contributed 16 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Knickert added 18 points and 2 rebounds.
Fox scored 29 points with 5 rebounds, 12 assists, and 4 steals on 12 out of 25 shooting. DeRozan had 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists on 12 out of 17 shooting. Monk scored 20 points with 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Sabonis contributed 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists. Ellis added 11 points and 1 rebound.
After the victory, the Lakers surpassed the Nuggets and Clippers in the standings, moving up to fifth place in the West. The Kings, after their loss, remained in twelfth place in the West.