Sacramento Kings vs Los Angeles Lakers Picks and Predictions December 21st 2024

Lakers Look to Sweep Back-to-Back Matchup Against Kings

The Los Angeles Lakers aim to build on their recent success against the Sacramento Kings as the teams meet again Saturday afternoon in Sacramento. The Lakers, fresh off a 113-100 victory on Thursday, are hoping to secure a sweep of this two-game set.

Lakers’ Keys to Victory: Defense and Depth

The Lakers’ win on Thursday showcased their ability to capitalize on Sacramento’s mistakes. Los Angeles forced 17 turnovers, turning them into 24 points, and leveraged 21 Kings fouls into 25 points from the free-throw line. Despite shooting just 40.4 percent from the field, the Lakers managed to outpace Sacramento by dominating in these critical areas.

LeBron James, who logged 34 minutes and added seven assists and six rebounds, highlighted the Lakers’ depth. James also surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leader in minutes played with 57,471. Anthony Davis contributed 21 points and 19 rebounds, anchoring Los Angeles’ interior dominance.

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Bench scoring has been a growing strength for the Lakers. D’Angelo Russell and Gabe Vincent combined for 28 points, helping the Lakers’ reserves outscore the Kings’ bench 30-19. Coach JJ Redick praised the collective effort, calling Thursday’s game “my favorite win we’ve had all season.”

Kings Seek Adjustments

For Sacramento, Thursday’s loss was a missed opportunity to capitalize on their superior shooting performance. The Kings shot 45.1 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from beyond the arc, but turnovers and fouling derailed their momentum.

Coach Mike Brown emphasized the need for discipline, saying, “They know exactly what we have to do. It’s whether or not we go do it.”

Sacramento has struggled with bench production since moving Malik Monk into the starting lineup. While Monk has averaged 18.0 points in his new role, the Kings’ bench has only contributed 24.8 points per game in that span.

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De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 26 points on Thursday and will again be the focal point of their offense. However, Sacramento will need more support from its role players and a reduction in turnovers to even the series.

Key Matchups to Watch

1. LeBron James vs. Kings’ Defense: LeBron’s ability to orchestrate the offense while contributing across the board will be a major factor.
2. Anthony Davis vs. Kings’ Rebounding: Davis dominated the boards on Thursday, and Sacramento must find a way to contain him to stay competitive.
3. Bench Contributions: Los Angeles’ depth proved critical in the previous matchup, and Sacramento will need to counter with improved scoring from its reserves.

Outlook

The Lakers’ ability to exploit turnovers and capitalize on free-throw opportunities will likely remain pivotal in Saturday’s rematch. Meanwhile, the Kings must focus on protecting the ball and minimizing fouls if they hope to split this back-to-back set. With both teams showcasing star power and playoff aspirations, this game promises to be another exciting chapter in their rivalry.