Photo credit: sportsbookwire.usatoday.com
By Ana Kieu
The Sacramento Kings looked to avoid a two-game losing skid with a win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. But the Kings lost to the shorthanded Lakers 115-94 at the Golden 1 Center.
The Kings got on the board first. Richaun Holmes threw down a dunk off an assist by Harrison Barnes. The score was 2-0 Kings just 14 seconds into the first quarter. De’Aaron Fox made a step back jumpshot to give the Kings a 12-9 lead with 6:39 left in the first quarter. Harrison Barnes made a pair of free throws and the Kings led by one, 28-27, with 28.1 seconds left in the first quarter. Montrezl Harrell wrapped up the quarter with a free throw. The Lakers were on top 29-27.
The Lakers took a 31-27 lead to start the second quarter. Talen Horton-Tucker made a driving layup just 15 seconds into the second quarter. Horton-Tucker added a two-point shot off an assist by Markieff Morris for a 33-27 lead at 11:15. LA, however, went in a scoring frenzy. Morris made a jumper with 28.2 seconds left in the second quarter. The Lakers took a 65-53 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Kings made it a 10-point game on Harrison Barnes’ dunk off an assist by Buddy Hield at 11:17 of the third quarter. Although Sacramento picked up the pace, LA maintained a double-digit lead throughout the third quarter. Talen Horton-Tucker made a driving layup with 3.7 seconds left in the third quarter. The Lakers wrapped up the third quarter with a 91-76 lead.
Talen Horton-Tucker made a pair of free throws to give the Lakers a 93-76 lead at 11:16 of the fourth quarter. Alex Caruso hit a three-pointer to help the Lakers to a 20-point lead at 10:20 of the fourth quarter. The Lakers reached the 100-point mark with 9:04 left in the fourth quarter when Caruso threw down a dunk. Devontae Cacok made a driving layup for a 115-94 lead with 25.3 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The Lakers won 115-94.
LA improved to 31-18, while Sacramento fell to 22-27.
The Kings welcome the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, April 3 at 7 pm PST.

