SACRAMENTO — Luka Dončić scored 40 points for the third straight game, and the Los Angeles Lakers pulled away from the Sacramento Kings for a 116-103 win Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center.
Dončić added nine rebounds and seven assists as the Lakers improved to 7-2 with their third consecutive victory. Austin Reaves finished with 21 points and four assists, while Walker Kessler supplied 15 points, eight rebounds, three steals and three blocks.
The Lakers did not match the offensive fireworks from their 138-point win over the Miami Heat, but they controlled this one with defense. Sacramento shot under 39 percent from the field and committed 17 turnovers.
Dončić takes over after slow start
Sacramento led by as many as eight in the first quarter before the Lakers closed the gap and finished the period tied at 28. Los Angeles began creating separation in the second quarter, outscoring the Kings 33-26 to take a 61-54 lead into halftime.
Dončić took control after the break. The Lakers used a 14-5 run in the third quarter to stretch the lead, and they held Sacramento to 20 points in the period. Los Angeles carried an 87-74 advantage into the fourth.
The Kings made one last push and cut the deficit to seven during a four-minute Lakers scoring drought. Dončić answered at the free-throw line, and Kessler scored six points in the fourth quarter to shut the door.
Dončić finished 11-of-23 from the field, made six 3-pointers and went 12-of-13 at the line. He has scored 127 points over the Lakers’ last three games, following 45 against Toronto and 42 against Miami.
That stretch has already pushed Dončić to the top of the early NBA MVP odds. He has now scored at least 37 points in six consecutive games.
Lakers win with defense
Reaves gave the Lakers a second scorer when Dončić needed help, making 7-of-15 shots. Kessler went 6-of-8 from the field and helped protect the paint as Sacramento struggled to generate clean looks.
The Lakers shot 44.9 percent overall and made 12 3-pointers. Their biggest advantage came at the free-throw line, where they went 34-of-38. Sacramento finished 21-of-28.
Darius Acuff Jr. led the Kings with 22 points and 12 assists. Domantas Sabonis added 16 points and 17 rebounds, but Sacramento fell to 1-7.
Los Angeles continues its road trip Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers.