Luka Doncic scored 42 points in Monday night’s 124-112 loss to the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center but remained focused on the team’s missed opportunities.
Despite his 42-point effort, the Lakers struggled from three-point range, finishing 8-for-36. Doncic acknowledged the Kings’ hot shooting.
“On the other end, they felt like they made every three,” he said. “We have some great shots. They didn’t go in, but they just made all their shots.”
Doncic described how he adapted offensively, focusing on driving to the basket.
“Just trying to get downhill more,” he said. “Sometimes they play the pick and roll, sometimes they didn’t, so just trying to get downhill a little bit more than usual.”
He also reflected on his physical condition during the game and upcoming back-to-back schedule.
“I was really uncertain before the game,” Doncic said. “I felt something while warming up. I was just trying to get warm and get going. Tomorrow we’ll see how I wake up.”
The injury is in the inner thigh and groin area, he clarified.
The Lakers built an early lead but could not contain Sacramento’s offense, which rallied from an eight-point deficit in the first quarter to take a 57-41 advantage late in the second.
Malik Monk scored 26 points, hitting seven 3-pointers, and DeMar DeRozan added 32 for the Kings, who won their first home game against Los Angeles since March 13, 2024.
Doncic acknowledged the team’s effort despite the loss. “We tried to do what we could,” he said, emphasizing the challenge of competing against a hot-shooting team.
Los Angeles will host Atlanta on Tuesday, while Sacramento faces the New York Knicks on Wednesday.
