NBA
Luka Drops 21 in 16 Minutes as Lakers Crush Kings 127-103 in Preseason Opener
October 6, 2026 · By Marcus · 4 min read
Doncic needed one half to take over Sacramento. The new-look Lakers won by 24 without Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler.
Luka Doncic played 16 minutes of basketball on Monday night. That was plenty.
Doncic scored 21 points with three assists and two steals in the first half as the Los Angeles Lakers routed the Sacramento Kings 127-103 in their preseason opener at Golden 1 Center. The Lakers led 73-47 at halftime, stretched the lead to 33, and never looked back.
It was the first Lakers game of the post-LeBron era, and the new identity showed up immediately: full-court pressure, pace, and ball movement. Los Angeles shot 50 percent from the field, 45.5 percent from three, and dished 29 assists. Thirteen of the 15 Lakers who played scored.
Short-handed and still rolling
The Lakers did this without four rotation players. Austin Reaves (ankle), Walker Kessler (finger), Collin Sexton (lower body) and Arthur Kaluma (lower body) all sat out. Doncic took a knee to the quad in the second quarter, stayed in, then sat the entire second half with the game decided.
The depth filled every gap. Rookie Cameron Carr announced himself with 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting in 23 minutes, including a transition dunk off a Doncic pass. Quentin Grimes scored 16 on just seven shots. Ziaire Williams went 3-for-3 from deep for 13 points while taking the toughest defensive assignment. Jake LaRavia added 12, Chris Manon poured in 12 in the fourth quarter alone, and Bronny James stuffed the sheet with three points, five boards, two assists and a block.
For Sacramento, Nique Clifford led with 23 points and rookie Darius Acuff Jr., the No. 7 overall pick, scored 19 in his debut.
What it means
It is one preseason game against the Kings, so nobody should overreact. But the shape of this Lakers team is the story. The defensive intensity from the opening tip, the pace, the willingness to share it: that is the brand JJ Redick has been preaching all camp, and it showed up in game one.
Doncic looked every bit the MVP candidate, efficient and unbothered in limited minutes. If the supporting cast defends like this when the games count, the Lakers are deeper than anyone expected.
Betting angle
Preseason blowouts do not move regular-season futures, but depth does matter for win totals. The Lakers just hung 127 on an NBA roster while missing Reaves and Kessler and sitting Doncic for a half. If this defensive identity is real, Los Angeles could be undervalued early while the market prices in last season's version of this team. Watch the first week of lines before the market catches up.
The Lakers travel to San Francisco for a back-to-back against the Warriors on Tuesday night at 10 p.m. ET on NBA TV.
Key Facts
- Final: Lakers 127, Kings 103 (preseason opener, Oct 5, 2026)
- Luka Doncic: 21 points, 3 assists, 2 steals in 16 minutes
- Rookie watch: Cameron Carr scored 19 on 7-of-13 shooting
- Out: Austin Reaves (ankle), Walker Kessler (finger), Collin Sexton and Arthur Kaluma (lower body)
- Team stats: 50% FG, 45.5% 3PT, 29 assists; led by as many as 33
- Next: Lakers at Warriors, Tuesday 10 p.m. ET, NBA TV
- Sources: Silver Screen and Roll, Sportsnet, Lakers Nation, USA Today
Via Silver Screen and Roll, Sportsnet, Lakers Nation