SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Interstat) — The Sacramento Kings delivered a stunning offensive performance to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 124-112 on Monday night at Golden 1 Center. The Kings, despite a 10-30 record, shot a blistering 17 for 26 from three-point range to secure the victory. DeMar DeRozan led Sacramento with 32 points and six assists, while Malik Monk added 26 points and eight assists. The Kings shot 58.5% from the floor overall. Luka Doncic scored 42 points for the Lakers, who shot just 8 for 36 from beyond the arc. LeBron James added 22 points. Sacramento led 32-28 after the first quarter and maintained control throughout, outscoring the Lakers in three of four periods. The loss dropped the Lakers to 23-14. Attendance was 17,832.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of both recent form and statistical expectation, the struggling Sacramento Kings unleashed an offensive barrage from beyond the arc to defeat the visiting Los Angeles Lakers 124-112 on Monday night at a raucous Golden 1 Center. The Kings, who entered the game with the NBA’s second-worst record at 10-30, shot a scorching 65.4% from 3-point range, making 17 of 26 attempts. This marks a dramatic turnaround from their previous meeting on Dec. 28, a 125-101 Lakers victory, and defied National Statistical’s ELO system, which gave the Lakers a 63.7% probability to win. The most important part of the game was Sacramento’s sustained and overwhelming perimeter shooting, which began early and never relented. The Kings built a 32-28 lead after the first quarter and extended it to 61-54 by halftime, largely on the strength of their deep shooting. This trend exploded in the third quarter, where Sacramento outscored Los Angeles 34-29 and effectively put the game out of reach. The Kings’ offensive rating of 131.0 on 95 possessions underscored a historically efficient night, while the Lakers’ own solid offensive rating of 117.5 was rendered insufficient. DeMar DeRozan, the Compton, California native, led the Kings with a masterful 32 points and six assists in 37 minutes, consistently hitting tough mid-range jumpers and facilitating the offense. He was brilliantly supported by guard Malik Monk, who scored 26 points and dished out eight assists, many of which fueled the 3-point onslaught. Russell Westbrook added 22 points and seven assists for Sacramento. Despite the loss, the Lakers were carried by the stellar play of Luka Doncic. The guard poured in a game-high 42 points, adding seven rebounds and eight assists in 37 minutes. LeBron James contributed 22 points, and Deandre Ayton posted a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double. However, the Lakers shot a frigid 22.2% from deep, making only 8 of 36 attempts, a fatal disparity on a night when the Kings could not miss. Sacramento’s ball movement was crisp, generating open looks against a Lakers defense that appeared consistently a step slow. While the Lakers won the battle on the offensive glass 12-6 and forced 12 turnovers, they had no answer for the Kings’ shooting. Key plays like Monk’s 25-foot step-back three in the second quarter and a critical Precious Achiuwa corner three late in the fourth, both assisted by Monk, typified a night where Sacramento’s role players delivered in high volume. The Lakers made several pushes, including a 9-2 run early in the fourth quarter to close within seven points, but each time the Kings responded with a clutch three-pointer, often from Monk or a timely bucket from DeRozan. A driving layup by DeRozan with just under three minutes to play pushed the lead back to 114-104, and a subsequent steal and three by Monk on the next possession sealed the victory, leading both teams to empty their benches in the final 90 seconds. The loss drops the Lakers to 23-14 on the season, while the Kings improve to 11-30. The total score of 236 points went over the posted over/under line of 228.5. Attendance at Golden 1 Center was 17,832. The Lakers face a quick turnaround, hosting the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night. The Kings’ next game is at home against the New York Knicks on Wednesday.

Preview: Lakers Look to Continue Dominance Over Struggling Kings SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Interstat) — The Los Angeles Lakers visit the Sacramento Kings on Monday night at Golden 1 Center, with the teams trending in opposite directions in the NBA standings. The Lakers (23-13) arrive after a narrow 105-101 home loss to Milwaukee on Friday, which snapped a three-game winning streak. LeBron James nearly posted a triple-double in the defeat with 26 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists. He has been in stellar form, averaging 26.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 7.5 assists over his last 10 games, including four contests with at least 30 points. Los Angeles has won seven of its last 10 and handily defeated these same Kings 125-101 at home on Dec. 28. James scored 24 points in that victory. Conversely, the Kings (8-30) are mired in a six-game losing streak, most recently a 137-103 road loss to Golden State on Friday. Veteran guard DeMar DeRozan leads Sacramento, averaging 19.0 points over his last 10 games. He scored 22 points in the late-December loss to the Lakers. Sacramento’s defense has been a persistent issue, allowing an average of 120.3 points during its current skid. The team has only two wins since Dec. 23. The Lakers have won both meetings this season, including a 127-120 victory in Sacramento on Oct. 26. James and co-star Luka Doncic, who had 24 points and nine assists against Milwaukee, will test the Kings’ perimeter defense. For Sacramento, slowing the Lakers’ transition offense and finding consistent scoring beyond DeRozan will be critical. The Kings have lost 12 of their last 13 games. Monday’s contest opens a brief two-game trip for the Lakers, who host Atlanta on Tuesday. The Kings begin a three-game homestand, hosting New York on Wednesday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST.