Doncic’s 21-point first half launches Lakers past Kings, 127–103

Luka Doncic needed only the first half to put the Lakers in control of their preseason opener. He scored 21 points in 16 minutes Monday night, and Los Angeles beat the Sacramento Kings 127–103 at Golden 1 Center with help from a lineup that kept making shots after its leading scorer sat down.

The Lakers went 20-for-44 from three-point range. Sacramento made four of its 23 attempts. That difference supplied a 48-point advantage from beyond the arc, enough to overcome the Kings’ 46–39 rebounding edge and their 52 points in the paint.

The second quarter created the separation

Los Angeles led 36–28 after one quarter, then outscored Sacramento 37–19 in the second. An 11–0 run helped push the game away from the Kings, and Sandro Mamukelashvili closed the half with a three-pointer. The Lakers went into the break ahead 73–47 and led by as many as 33 during the game.

Doncic added three assists, two rebounds and two steals. He hit three threes and went 8-for-9 at the foul line before sitting out the second half. The NBA’s first-half highlight package captured the work that established the lead.

Quentin Grimes scored 16 points in 19 minutes, making five of seven shots and two of three attempts from deep. Ziaire Williams contributed 13 points in 21 minutes and went 3-for-3 from deep. Matisse Thybulle had six points and two steals in 18 minutes. Those three started alongside Doncic and Kevon Looney, who collected nine rebounds in 18 minutes.

Carr and the bench kept the scoring going

Cameron Carr scored 19 points in 23 minutes off the bench, shooting 7-for-13 overall and 3-for-7 from three. Jake LaRavia added 12 points on 5-for-6 shooting, with three rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in 21 minutes. Mamukelashvili finished with eight points and five assists in 19 minutes.

Bronny James played 16 minutes and had three points, five rebounds, two assists and a block. The Lakers finished with 29 assists on 41 made baskets and shot 50 percent from the floor.

Sacramento’s strongest scoring came from Nique Clifford, who had 23 points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes. Darius Acuff Jr. supplied 19 points and four assists in 27 minutes. Maxime Raynaud added 12 points and eight rebounds in 24 minutes, while Dylan Cardwell had nine points and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes. Domantas Sabonis played 10 minutes and Zach LaVine played 15.

Los Angeles opened without Austin Reaves because of an ankle injury and Walker Kessler because of a finger injury. Collin Sexton and Arthur Kaluma also sat out with lower-body injuries. Their absences left this first look at the rotation incomplete. The Lakers and Kings meet again Thursday at Crypto.com Arena.