Luka Dončić Leads Lakers Past Kings as Austin Reaves Returns With Eight Assists

Luka Dončić continued his strong preseason build-up Thursday night, scoring 23 points in 25 minutes as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Sacramento Kings 114-110 at Crypto.com Arena. The more important development for Los Angeles may have been the return of Austin Reaves. In his first preseason appearance, Reaves finished with eight points, eight assists and five rebounds in just under 25 minutes, giving the Lakers their first extended look this preseason at Dončić and Reaves operating together.

Dončić shot 6-of-16 but repeatedly created pressure at the foul line, going 9-for-9 there. Reaves did not need a big scoring night to make an impact; his playmaking helped organize a Lakers offense that built a 57-43 halftime lead. Sandro Mamukelashvili added 19 points off the bench, while Quentin Grimes scored 12. Los Angeles survived a 40-point Sacramento fourth quarter to improve to 2-1 in preseason play.

For Lakers fans, the box score matters less than the early chemistry. Reaves gives Dončić another ball-handler who can create without dominating possessions, and eight assists in his first game back is an encouraging sign. The preseason is still an experiment, but Los Angeles is beginning to show how its primary creators can share the floor. The next question is whether that offensive connectivity holds up as the rotation gets healthier and the competition becomes more meaningful.