Maxi Kleber described Sunday’s 128-104 win over the Sacramento Kings as “a good push for me, good push for the team.” He emphasized the team’s approach in the back-to-back series, saying, “Playing with the right mindset… sharing the ball, being aggressive, making sure that we take care of the ball… and being solid on defense.”
Kleber acknowledged a first-half lapse on the boards by Sacramento but said the Lakers corrected it quickly. “They had a stretch where they got too many offensive rebounds in the first half, but I think after that, we got it down and just kept building on what we did yesterday,” he said.
Reflecting on his role, Kleber stressed readiness and communication. “I just always focus on staying ready… on the defensive side, making sure I communicate to the guys, make the right decisions on the switches, on the screen calls… on the offensive side, setting good screens, getting my teammates open,” he said.
He also shared his approach to challenges against elite players. “There will be higher players, obviously amazing players and better athletes out there, but if you try to win and try to compete, you just take a chance, baby,” Kleber said, referencing a past playoff matchup with Kawhi Leonard as an example of resilience.
Kleber highlighted Luka Doncic’s performance as a source of inspiration. “I liked his AND1 mixtape move… spinning around 360 and then shot the three. It was incredible,” he said,.
The Lakers dominated from the start, never trailing after Sacramento’s opening basket, and shot 50% from the field with 46% from three. Doncic scored 28 points with nine assists and four 3-pointers before exiting after three quarters, while LeBron James added 24 points with two highlight dunks.
Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton contributed 12 points each, with Ayton perfect on 6-of-6 shooting. The Lakers also controlled the boards with 37 rebounds, completing a back-to-back sweep after Saturday’s victory in Golden State.
Sacramento’s Nique Clifford led all scorers with 26 points, and Russell Westbrook added 14 in his hometown. The Kings have now lost 18 of 20 games, remaining the NBA’s worst team at 14-48.
