The Sacramento Kings would like to see success on the road carry over to the start of a seven-game homestand when they host Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.
The Kings became the last NBA team to win a game this season when they came to life on the final day of a four-game trip to shock the Dallas Mavericks 115-100 on Monday night.
They entered the game 0-6, having been beaten by a total of 70 points on stops in San Antonio, New Orleans and Memphis to begin a week-long trip.
On a night when he had 24 points off the bench and Zach LaVine chipped in with 23, veteran Malik Monk found himself answering questions about rookie Darius Acuff Jr., who paced the Kings in Dallas with 25 points.
“Phenomenal player,” Monk said. “Unlimited range. Unlimited confidence. That’s what you need coming into the league. I told him: Don’t change. He’s gonna be here for a while.”
The No. 7 pick in the June draft, Acuff began his NBA career shooting a lot, but not doing much else. He averaged 21.5 points in his first four games, but shot just 34.4% while contributing just 2.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists.
He has since averaged 32.3 points on 48.6% shooting, while also mixing in 5.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists over three games, including the Kings’ first win.
The Lakers have gotten even better numbers all season from Doncic, who scorched the Toronto Raptors for 45 points and 15 rebounds, then the Miami Heat for 42 points and 13 assists in consecutive home wins Sunday and Monday.
His season averages are 38.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 8.1 assists.
Doncic’s performance against the Heat on Monday had even Giannis Antetokounmpo astounded.
“He’s one of the best scorers to ever play this game, if not the best,” he told reporters. “Not right now. Of all-time. I feel like some people are scared to say that. But it’s got to be out there. He’s also an elite passer.”
Doncic believes his team’s passing — not just his — has been a key to the Lakers’ 6-2 start. Nine different players had assists and the team totaled 26 in the win over Toronto on Sunday, before five guys had four or more as the Lakers ran up 39 assists against the Heat.
“We’re sharing the ball really well,” Doncic said after Monday’s win. “(The Heat) obviously put two (defenders) on me, so we just shared the ball — 39 assists, which is not bad. I think everybody feels comfortable with that kind of offense.”
Doncic has never won at Sacramento as a member of the Lakers. He had 42 points in his one and only visit to the California capital as a Laker last January, but the Kings got a combined 54 points from DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook — two guys no longer with the team — in a 124-112 win.
Doncic has averaged 27.4 points in eight career games at Sacramento.
