Despite the absence of Anthony Davis and LeBron James, D’Angelo Russell led the Lakers to a resounding victory.

In a preseason game where the Lakers mainly played backup players, they secured a 109-101 victory against the Sacramento Kings. D’Angelo Russell continued to shine, contributing 21 points and eight assists in his 21 minutes of play, with this being the first preseason game where D-Lo played during the second half.

Rui Hachimura remained impressive, starting tonight and scoring 13 points on 50% shooting. The Lakers’ latest addition, Gabe Vincent, also made a strong impression, scoring 18 points and going 4-8 from beyond the arc.

With LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, and Cam Reddish unavailable for this game, it was evident that this matchup was an opportunity to showcase the team’s backup players. In contrast to their previous game against the Brooklyn Nets, which felt more like a dress rehearsal for the regular season, this game emphasized the utilization of the reserve squad. The Lakers are now halfway through their preseason schedule.

D’Angelo Russell, the lone official starter on the court for the Lakers, showcased why head coach Darvin Ham has immense confidence in him. He orchestrated the Lakers’ offense smoothly from the opening tip-off. Russell began with a no-look assist to Gabe Vincent, attacked the basket, shot a remarkable 80% from the field in the first quarter, and dished out five assists in the opening quarter alone. He finally took a brief rest at the 3:33 mark, and the crowd at the Honda Center showered him with applause while his teammates celebrated with high fives.

Despite facing a Sacramento Kings team that fielded the same starting five they used in Game 7 against the Warriors, with the exception of Keegan Murray, the Lakers managed to maintain control for most of the first half. However, the Kings rallied back in the second quarter, with both teams trading baskets in the closing minutes, allowing Sacramento to hold a one-point lead at halftime.

The Lakers retained their same starting five to kick off the third quarter, a strategy they hadn’t employed throughout the preseason. This move showcased evident chemistry, with Gabe Vincent sinking threes and D’Angelo Russell maintaining his exceptional shooting. The Lakers went on an 11-point unanswered scoring streak, forcing the Kings to call a timeout. A visibly delighted Anthony Davis and LeBron James rose from their seats and celebrated with the “Freezer” gesture following another Russell three-pointer.

Entering the fourth quarter with a double-digit lead, the Lakers relied on their young core and continued to extend their advantage. Sacramento was unable to close the gap, and the Lakers cruised to a comfortable victory in Orange County.

Key Takeaways:
Despite the absence of many key players, the Lakers put on a strong performance. D’Lo is showcasing his best qualities while minimizing his weaknesses, Rui Hachimura continues to be one of the team’s most potent offensive weapons, and new additions Taurean Prince, Jaxson Hayes, and Gabe Vincent all made valuable contributions.

The Lakers will face the Warriors in their next matchup on Friday at home at 7 p.m. PT, with national coverage on ESPN2. It remains to be seen whether the Lakers will take this game seriously or opt to rest their starters again, considering their upcoming game against the Milwaukee Bucks, featuring Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, where all players will be available on Sunday.