The Sacramento Kings head to Southern California for a Pacific Division matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers in what shapes up as a lopsided contest given the Kings’ injury woes and poor form. The Lakers, despite their own recent struggles, enter as heavy favorites at home.
Venue
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Tip-Off is set for 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET)
TV Broadcast: SportsNet LA (Lakers feed), NBCS-CA (Kings feed)
This marks the second meeting of the 2025-26 season between these rivals, with the Kings taking the first matchup on October 26, 2025, by a score of 127-120.
Recent Team Forms
Both teams are coming off uneven stretches, but the Kings’ issues run deeper.
Sacramento Kings: The Kings snapped a three-game losing streak with a 113-107 home win over the Dallas Mavericks on December 27, but they’ve lost 8 of their last 10 overall. Their offense has sputtered without key contributors, averaging just 105.0 points per game in December losses. Defensively, they’ve allowed 120+ points in four of their last five defeats, including a 136-127 loss to the Detroit Pistons on December 23 and a 136-105 blowout by the Denver Nuggets on December 11.
Road form has been dismal, with a 4-12 record and an average margin of defeat of 12.5 points in away losses.
Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers are on a three-game skid, dropping decisions to the Phoenix Suns (132-108 on December 23) and Houston Rockets (119-96 on December 25), among others. They’ve gone 2-3 in their last five, with defensive lapses allowing 125.7 points per game during the losing streak. However, at home, they’ve been stout, winning 11 of 15 and holding opponents to under 110 points in most victories.
The absences have hit their depth, but core stars remain available.
Injury Report
Injuries heavily favor the Lakers, as the Kings are without their top scorers and rebounders.
Sacramento Kings:
Domantas Sabonis (knee): Out, sidelined for at least 4-5 more weeks.
Keegan Murray (right calf strain): Out, expected to miss multiple games.
Zach LaVine (left ankle sprain): Out.
Devin Carter (left ankle sprain/right foot surgery): Questionable/Out.
Drew Eubanks (left thumb avulsion fracture): Out.
Brandon Williams (left calf contusion): Out.
The Kings are essentially fielding a G-League-level rotation, relying on De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk to carry the load.
Los Angeles Lakers:
Austin Reaves (grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain): Out, re-evaluated in four weeks.
Jaxson Hayes (undisclosed concern): Questionable.
Two other rotation players (details not specified in reports, potentially minor): Questionable.
The Lakers miss Reaves’ scoring (around 20 PPG), but LeBron James and Anthony Davis are healthy and expected to play.
Key Player Matchups
With the Kings decimated, these battles tilt heavily toward the Lakers. Focus will be on Sacramento’s remaining guards trying to contain L.A.’s stars.
De’Aaron Fox (SAC) vs. D’Angelo Russell (LAL): Fox (averaging 26+ PPG) is the Kings’ lone offensive threat, but Russell’s playmaking and shooting could exploit Sacramento’s perimeter defense, which ranks bottom-5 in opponent 3PT%. Expect Fox to push the pace, but Russell’s experience in pick-and-rolls with Davis gives L.A. the edge.
Anthony Davis (LAL) vs. Alex Len/Drew Eubanks (SAC, if available): Davis (28+ PPG, 11+ RPG) dominates the paint, especially against a Sabonis-less Kings frontcourt. Len or backups will struggle to contain AD’s scoring and rebounding; he’s averaged 30+ points in recent wins over depleted teams.
LeBron James (LAL) vs. Kevin Huerter/Harrison Barnes (SAC): James (25+ PPG, 8+ APG) will feast on mismatches, orchestrating from the wing. The Kings’ wing depth is thin without Murray, so James could post triple-double numbers.
Malik Monk (SAC) vs. Rui Hachimura (LAL): Monk’s bench scoring (18+ PPG) keeps Sacramento afloat, but Hachimura’s size and defense could limit his drives.
The Kings’ absences make these matchups one-sided, with L.A.’s stars poised for big nights.
(Note: Some sources erroneously list Luka Dončić on the Lakers, likely a data error; standard rosters apply here.)
Series History
The Lakers hold a commanding all-time edge, with 286 wins to the Kings’ 168 in 454 regular-season meetings. In the playoffs, L.A. leads 22-14 across 36 games. Recently, the series has been more competitive: The Lakers are 6-8 in their last 14 against Sacramento, including the Kings’ win earlier this season. At home, however, the Lakers have won 45 straight against the Kings dating back decades (an NBA record streak), though recent trends show Sacramento covering the spread in 4 of the last 6 road games vs. L.A.
Betting Trends
Spread: The Lakers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games, while the Kings are 7-8-1 ATS on the road but 4-10-1 ATS at home—suggesting slight value in Sacramento covering as big underdogs.
Over/Under: Trends lean under: 4 of the Lakers’ last 5 games have gone under, and the Kings’ offense averages under 110 PPG without their stars. Series history shows 6 of the last 10 meetings under the total.
Other Trends: Lakers are 10-7 ATS on the road but stronger at home (9-6 ATS). Kings have covered in 4 of last 5 as +10 or more underdogs.
Game Odds
Sacramento Kings 231.5
Los Angeles Lakers – 13.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, December 27, 2025
