LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Buddy Hield scored 28 points, including a 3-pointer that made the Sacramento region of 11 consecutive curves in the third period, and the Kings beat the Los Angeles Lakers 136-122 on Thursday.
Bogdan Bogdanovic had 27 points when the Kings only started the NBA restart for the third time. The Kings made 21 3-pointers as Hield shot 8 of 14. Bogdanovic added five 3s.
The Lakers had their focus on the playoffs. Most Lakers starters were kept, but LeBron James had 17 points in 15 minutes, all in the first half.
Dion Waiters led the Lakers with 19 points. Markieff Morris had 14.
Los Angeles closed out the Western Conference No. 1 seed to start three games in a row. Coach Frank Vogel said he believes the Lakers are using the throughput to prepare them for the playoffs.
“I always feel like there are more that we can achieve and improve, but with the circumstances of the pandemic … I thought this was an appropriate time to get ready,” Vogel said.
The Lakers do not yet know who they will face in the first round of the playoffs. The No. 8 seed will be determined in a play-in this weekend.
The Kings will miss the playoffs for the 14th consecutive year – the longest stretch of the league. They have not made it to the postseason since losing to San Antonio in the first round of the 2006 playoffs.
The Kings led 56-52 when James left the game for good in the first half. Hield added two 3-pointers in the closing minutes of the half to extend the halftime lead to 66-56.
Sacramento outscored the Lakers 36-16 in the second period and 41-28 in the third. Held dropped a 3 to stretch the Kings’ lead to 28 points at 101-73.
MESSAGE TO FANS
Coach Luke Walton said his message to frustrated Kings fans “was stick with us and stay patient.”
“We work as hard as we can,” Walton said. “We believe in ourselves and we believe we will be back in the playoffs. We just have to be patient with the team we have.”
STONE STRIKE
James missed two layups in his limited time, but still easily reached double figures in points in his 995th consecutive game. He scored 10 points by sinking two free throws early in the second period and then added a falling jumper on the Lakers’ next possession.
PARKING
Kings forward Jabari Parker had 19 points and eight rebounds in 30 minutes from the bench. It was a rare opportunity for Parker, who had to recover from the coronavirus, to show his worth in extended minutes.
Parker said he hopes to stay in Sacramento, but has not decided if he will exercise his player option in his contract.
“I do not plan to move again,” said Parker, who was traded to the Kings by the Atlanta Hawks on Feb. 6.
TIP-INS
Kings: Nemanja Bjelica had 15 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds. … Bogdanovic had nine assists. … Kent Bazemore (injured left calf) missed his third straight game. De’Aaron Fox (left shoulder) and Richaun Holmes (sore right leg) also did not play.
Lakers: Rookie Languages Horton-Tucker set a career-high 14 points. … Anthony Davis (knee), Alex Caruso (neck) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (ribs) did not play. Kyle Kuzma was also rested.
FOLLOWING
Kings: Season ends.
Lakers: If it no. 1-seed in the West, Lakers will be the winner of the play-in for the no. 8-seed against.
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