The Sacramento Kings dropped a 114-110 preseason decision to the Los Angeles Lakers on October 8, 2026. A spirited fourth-quarter rally from the Kings' bench fell just short on the road.
Los Angeles built a lead that stretched to 19 points during the contest. The Kings' starters struggled to contain Luka Doncic, who scored 23 points on 16 field-goal attempts in the first three quarters. Lakers newcomer Sandro Mamukelashvili also made a strong case for a rotation spot, putting up 19 points in just 21 minutes.
But Sacramento's energy shifted in the final period. With Bronny James running the Lakers' offense, their attack stalled. That opened the door for a Kings comeback fueled by maximum effort from the deep reserves. Daeqwon Plowden was electric off the bench, hitting three triples in the quarter and finishing with 15 points in only 11 minutes. His shooting helped cut the deficit to just four points with 19.2 seconds left. It was too little, too late, however, as the Lakers secured the win at home.
Precious Achiuwa provided consistent energy and production throughout the night. He finished with 16 points on an efficient 8-of-12 shooting from the field. His work in the paint kept Sacramento within striking distance during the third quarter. Plowden's explosive fourth-quarter shooting was the other major bright spot. Beyond the scoring, the team's effort level in the final minutes against the Lakers' deep reserves showed competitive spirit.
This game was part of a busy preseason schedule. The Kings' most recent result was a 126-97 preseason loss to the San Antonio Spurs on October 16. Their exhibition record also includes games against the Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors as they finalize their roster.
Head coach and his staff will review the film from this close loss. They'll look to tighten up defensive rotations after the Lakers found success, particularly in a zone scheme. Integrating new pieces and establishing rotation roles remains the priority before the regular season tips off.
The Kings' next test is another road game. They travel to face the LA Clippers on October 21 in their final preseason tune-up. After that, the focus turns completely to the opening night of the 2026-27 NBA regular season.
