Kyle Kuzma takes over as Lakers rout Kings
Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after making a basket against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on April 02, 2021 in Sacramento, California. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/AFP
Kyle Kuzma dominated the host Sacramento Kings to the tune of a season-best and game-high 30 points in 36 minutes Friday night, propelling the Los Angeles Lakers to a 115-94 victory.
Dennis Schroder contributed 17 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope chipped in with 13 points and 10 rebounds, helping the Lakers win for the third time in their last four games after losing four in a row.
Article continues after this advertisementHarrison Barnes had a team-high 26 points, equaling his fourth-most this season, for the Kings, who had beaten the Lakers in their last trip to Sacramento, 123-120, just before the All-Star break.
👏 @kylekuzma pours in a season-high 30 in the @Lakers road W! #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/Zy0TmpSzdO
— NBA (@NBA) April 3, 2021
The rematch wasn’t close, with the Lakers overwhelming the hosts from beyond the 3-point arc. Kuzma and Caldwell-Pope combined for eight 3-pointers in 14 attempts, helping Los Angeles shoot at a 51.5 percent rate, 17 of 33, from beyond the arc.
Article continues after this advertisementDespite Barnes and Delon Wright dropping in three 3-pointers apiece, Sacramento shot just 10-for-35 from deep and was outscored 51-30 there.
In easily prevailing without injured LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers led by as many as 13 in the first quarter, 16 in the second and 17 in the third before coasting home.
Kuzma made 11 of his 18 shots overall en route to bettering his previous season-high by five points.
Schroder added a game-high eight assists and four steals for the Lakers, who return home to play the rival Clippers in an official road game on Sunday before going back on the road for five more in a row.
Talen Horton-Tucker added 15 points and Markieff Morris 14 points and eight rebounds, while Montrezl Harrell tied the team high of 10 rebounds to go with five points.
Wright finished with 13 points for the Kings, who had won five in a row at home and five of their last six overall.
De’Aaron Fox had 12 points (5-for-20 shooting from the field) and Richaun Holmes 11 for Sacramento.
