National Basketball Association
L.A. Lakers 122, Sacramento 114
When: 10:30 PM ET, Tuesday, January 4, 2022
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
Officials: #12 CJ Washington, #45 Brian Forte, #62 JB DeRosa
Attendance: 17919

LeBron James and Malik Monk combined for 55 points, including five 3-pointers in a fourth-quarter rally that allowed the host Los Angeles Lakers to overtake the Sacramento Kings 122-114 on Tuesday night.

James finished with a game-high 31 points and Monk had 24 as the Lakers won a third straight to open a five-game homestand.

De'Aaron Fox scored a team-high 30 points and Buddy Hield tallied 26 for the Kings, who lost for just the second time in their last five games.

The Lakers trailed 96-89 with 8:11 remaining before riding 14 points from James and 11 from Monk in a 33-18 finish. James hit a pair of 3-pointers and Monk three as part of the flurry.

After James and Hield had split four consecutive lead-changing 3-pointers, Monk and Tyrese Haliburton exchanged two-point hoops. Monk gave the Lakers the lead for good, 112-110, with a 3-pointer with 2:50 to go.

James then added a pair of baskets to increase the lead to six with 52.5 seconds remaining, and Los Angeles held on from there.

Monk wound up 6-for-11 on 3-pointers for the Lakers, who won despite getting outshot 51.8 percent to 49.5 percent overall and 41-34 on threes.

Talen Horton-Tucker and Russell Westbrook added 19 points apiece for the Lakers, while Dwight Howard put up a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.

Hield made seven 3-pointers in 13 attempts to account for a majority of his 26 points.

Harrison Barnes scored 14 points and Damian Jones 11 for the Kings. Marvin Bagley III led Sacramento with 12 rebounds, while Haliburton amassed a game-high nine assists to complement seven points.

Playing their ninth consecutive game without Anthony Davis (sprained knee), the Lakers led 89-85 on Carmelo Anthony's hoop in the first minute of the fourth quarter.

The Kings then made a run. Haliburton hit a 3-pointer and Davion Mitchell scored twice from the interior in an 11-0 spurt that allowed Sacramento to equal either team's largest lead of the game, 96-89, with 8:11 remaining.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Sacramento   L.A. Lakers
De'Aaron Fox 30 Scoring LeBron James 31
Tyrese Haliburton 9 Assists Talen Horton-Tucker 6
Marvin Bagley III 12 Rebounds Dwight Howard 14
Damian Jones 5 Free Throws Made Russell Westbrook 5
Marvin Bagley III 1 Steals Talen Horton-Tucker 2
Maurice Harkless 1 Blocks Trevor Ariza 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Sacramento 114 51.8 14-34 14-18 31 45 3 2 18
L.A. Lakers 122 49.5 11-32 13-20 24 44 5 6 5
Upcoming Games
  • L.A. Lakers will play their next game at home against Atlanta. The Lakers have a W/L % of .474 after a win and .550 after a loss.
  • Sacramento will play their next game at home against Atlanta. The Kings have a W/L % of .412 after a win and .409 after a loss.