Category: NBA

Sacramento Kings Nique Clifford (10) reaches up to block the basketball against Los Angeles Lakers Bronny James (9) in exhibition play at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Thu Oct 8, 2026 (AP News photo)

Kings’ Fourth-Quarter Comeback Falls Short in L.A.

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Kings turned a 16-point deficit into a four-point finish Thursday night, but their fourth-quarter comeback fell short as the Los Angeles Lakers held on for a 114-110 victory. Sacramento’s late surge gave Los Angeles plenty to worry about, especially after the Kings struggled to find their offensive rhythm during the first half.

Luka Dončić led the Lakers with 23 points, while Sandro Mamukelashvili contributed 19 and Jake LaRavia added 17. Precious Achiuwa paced Sacramento with 18 points, followed by Daeqwon Plowden with 15 and Maxime Raynaud with 13.

The Kings opened with a systematic surge around the basket. Achiuwa scored twice on second-chance opportunities, while Raynaud contributed a jumper and a dunk to give Sacramento a 10-7 advantage midway through the first quarter. However, Dončić quickly answered, and Los Angeles regained control behind a three-pointer from LaRavia.

Sacramento’s bench provided some late energy. E. Sharp connected on consecutive three-pointers, including a 29-footer that brought the Kings within one at 17-16. Jonathan Mogbo added a layup with four seconds remaining, leaving Sacramento trailing just 21-20 after the opening period.

The second quarter saw the Lakers swarm with no forgiveness.

Los Angeles opened the period with a 19-5 scoring advantage over the first 5:49, stretching its lead to 40-25 following a three-pointer from Matisse Thybulle. Dončić connected from 31 feet, while Quentin Grimes and Mamukelashvili also contributed from beyond the arc.

Sacramento struggled with turnovers and missed opportunities, particularly from long distance. Raynaud provided activity on the glass, but the Kings repeatedly surrendered possessions before establishing an offensive rhythm.

Zach LaVine helped steady the offense with a pair of dunks and a driving reverse layup. Rookie Darius Acuff Jr. then supplied eight points during the final 1:09 of the half, including consecutive three-pointers and his own blink or you’ll miss it, layup.

Still, the Lakers carried a 57-43 advantage into halftime, with Dončić accounting for 17 points.

Sacramento showed renewed determination after intermission. De’Andre Hunter converted a three-point play, LaVine added two free throws, and Achiuwa continued his attack. The Kings gradually reduced the deficit, with Achiuwa scoring 12 points during the third quarter.

A layup from L. Black brought Sacramento within eight at 68-60, and Achiuwa later trimmed the margin to five with another layup that made it 74-69 with 2:20 remaining.

Just when Sacramento appeared ready to complete its comeback, Los Angeles responded.

Mamukelashvili buried consecutive three-pointers during the final 35 seconds of the quarter, both assisted by Bronny James. The Lakers closed the period with a 12-1 run, restoring a commanding 86-70 advantage entering the fourth.

Plowden then provided an immediate spark for Sacramento with two three-pointers early in the final period, while Raynaud continued producing inside. The Kings eventually found another gear behind their reserves, particularly Plowden, Mogbo and Alex Karaban.

Trailing 103-87 with 5:06 remaining, Sacramento assembled an 11-0 run. Karaban connected from beyond the arc, Mogbo scored inside, and Sharp followed with a three-pointer. Plowden then buried another long-distance attempt, reducing the deficit to 103-98 with 2:55 left.

The Lakers answered with a free throw from Jaden Hardy, but Mogbo converted an alley-oop layup to make it 104-100 with exactly two minutes remaining.

Los Angeles regained some breathing room through a dunk from W. Kyle and a putback by Jarred Vanderbilt. Sacramento continued battling, with Plowden scoring twice inside during the final minute.

However, Los Angeles protected its advantage at the free-throw line. Bronny James converted two attempts with 34 seconds remaining, while Hardy and Cole Swider added points from the stripe in the closing seconds.

Plowden scored at the buzzer to establish the final pair of points.

Despite the defeat, Sacramento’s reserves demonstrated their ability to generate offense under pressure. Mogbo finished with 12 points, while Clifford distributed six assists and Plowden scored all 15 of his points during the fourth quarter.

For the Kings, the late comeback offered encouragement, but their second-quarter struggles and Los Angeles’ closing burst in the third ultimately left too much ground to recover.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Lakers star Luka Doncic looks to shoot as Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis defends during the first half of their preseason game on Monday night at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

No Beam as the Lakers Roll Past Sacramento 127-103

By Mauricio Segura

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings found themselves chasing the Los Angeles Lakers almost from the opening tip Monday, and by the time Sacramento found some traction, the deficit had grown far beyond reach. Los Angeles used a dominant second quarter, balanced scoring and Sacramento’s foul trouble to run away with a 127-103 victory in the first pre season game of the 26-27 campaign.

Sacramento briefly held the upper hand during a competitive opening quarter. Rookie D. Acuff Jr. scored eight early points, while Zach LaVine found his rhythm from midrange. LaVine’s turnaround jumper gave Sacramento an 18-13 advantage with 5:16 remaining, but Luka Dončić quickly changed the direction of the quarter.

Dončić buried consecutive three pointers, including a running 25-footer, as Los Angeles moved ahead. The Lakers closed the quarter with a 23-10 surge after LaVine’s basket and carried a 36-28 lead into the second.

Then the game broke open.

J. LaRavia scored the Lakers’ first four points of the second quarter before adding a 3-pointer that pushed the margin to 45-30. Q. Grimes followed with a 27-foot 3-pointer, Matisse Thybulle connected from deep, and Dončić added another triple as Los Angeles built a 54-30 advantage with 7:48 left in the half.

Sacramento’s problems extended beyond missed shots. Domantas Sabonis picked up his third foul with 10:26 remaining in the second quarter, his fourth less than two minutes later and his fifth with 6:26 still on the clock. The Kings’ center was forced to the bench after scoring four points, leaving Sacramento without one of its primary rebounders and playmakers.

The Lakers continued piling on. Dončić scored 21 first-half points, while Sacramento committed a series of turnovers that repeatedly interrupted any attempt at a sustained response. Los Angeles stretched its lead as high as 33 before the Kings closed the half with a modest rally.

Acuff provided Sacramento’s best offensive resistance. He scored seven points during a late 14-6 Kings run, including a driving layup and a 26-foot pull-up 3-pointer. Nique Clifford completed a three-point play late in the quarter, but S. Mamukelashvili answered with a 27-foot triple that sent Los Angeles into halftime ahead 73-47.

Sacramento showed more fight after intermission. M. Raynaud scored six points in the third quarter, D. Cardwell supplied a transition dunk and Clifford reached double figures. E. Sharp’s 28-foot 3-pointer trimmed the deficit to 86-67 with 5:34 remaining.

Los Angeles quickly restored its cushion. C. Carr scored 12 points in the third, including two late 3-pointers, and the Lakers carried a 99-77 advantage into the fourth.

With the outcome largely settled, Sacramento’s reserves continued competing. Raynaud scored six more points early in the fourth, including an alley-oop dunk from A. Karaban. D. Plowden reached 12 points, while Clifford produced the Kings’ strongest finishing stretch.

Clifford scored 12 points in the final period and finished with a Sacramento-high 23. He knocked down a step-back 3-pointer with 1:10 remaining, drove for another basket and scored at the horn. Acuff finished with 19 points and four assists, while Raynaud and Plowden each scored 12. Cardwell contributed nine points, nine rebounds and three steals.

The Lakers spread the scoring across their roster. Dončić led their early assault with 21 points, Carr finished with 19, Grimes scored 16 and LaRavia added 12. Los Angeles led by as many as 33 points and never allowed Sacramento closer than 19 during the second half.

For the Kings, the damage was concentrated in a brutal second quarter. Sacramento was outscored 37-19 during those 12 minutes, and Sabonis’ early foul trouble stripped the Kings of a central piece before halftime. Sacramento competed more evenly afterward, but by then Los Angeles had built far too much separation.

Next up for the Kings it’s off to Los Angeles Thu Oct 8th for a tip off with these same Lakers at Crypto.com Arena for a 7:30pm PDT tip.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.