The Kings ended their longest losing streak of the season (5) by beating the Lakers tonight, 125-116. De’Aaron Fox scored 20 points, Chimezie Metu scored an important 3-pointer 46.7 seconds from the buzzer, Harrison Barnes finished with 23 points and 7 rebounds, Tyrese Haliburton 14 points and 10 assists. Opposite LeBron James recorded an 11th game in 12 games with at least 31 points with 34 units at 13/29 (3/12 at 3-pointers), 7 rebounds and 6 assists, in vain. Malik Monk finished him at 22 points and the rookie Austin Reaves was the only other Laker to approach 20 points with 19 7/10 off the bench.
Los Angeles had yet led a good part of the first half, with an advantage up to 14 points, 67-53. The Kings came back into the game with an 8-0, then scored the first 5 points of the 3rd quarter (40-23 in the period). Another big run (15-0) powered by Fox then allowed the locals to take the lead 92-79.
Trailing by 10 points, the Lakers rebounded to 118-116 on a James layup. Fox answered him near the basket and after a 3-pointer missed by Russell Westbrook (8 points at 2/14, 12 rebounds, 6 assists), Metu killed the long distance game. Avery Bradley missed an attempt from 3-point behind and Haliburton finally put an end to the suspense by scoring 2 free throws. Carmelo Anthony (back) did not play. It’s a second loss in a row for LA, which remained before that on 4 wins.
– .
