Just when the first quarter began to go in the Sacramento Kings’ favor, Austin Reaves stepped up. Without LeBron James on the team, the Lakers seemed to fumble before a fiery Mike Brown-less squad. They had a 20-19 lead in the initial minutes, which of course changed as the game progressed. Thus, four times in a row, the Purple and Gold side pinned down SAC Town.

It wasn’t a particularly easy game. De’Aaron Fox charged himself up to do something for his team. He ended up with a solid 29 points. DeMar DeRozan chipped in with 25 and Malik Monk added 20 points. But of course, nothing could stop their sixth consecutive loss. However, the Kings found an ally in Austin Reaves who seems optimistic about their bounceback in the upcoming games. After the game reporters asked AR: “It’s not easy to beat a team four times certainly the times in the last week. You get it done against Sacramento. What did it take, cuz they were really pushing hard tonight?” 

“They’ve been struggling. I think they’ve lost six in a row. But that isn’t what their team is. They play hard, they compete in every possession,” Austin Reaves said. “And they got really good players. They’ll figure out their way, you know. I can almost guarantee that. Like I said, they got too much talent and they obviously play really hard. So, it’s tough to like you said, beat a team four times but happily, we could do that.”

It’s true though! The Sacramento Kings do have a good talent pool to throw on the court for action. But as you can see, not a lot of things are working out for them. Besides, firing Mike Brown has put some negative light on the front office. And under interim coach Dough Christie’s reign, the game against the Lakers was a heartbreak. So, yes, a comeback– and a real one might we add, is pending, waiting in a queue for the Basketball Gods to let it pass.

So, on one hand, Reaves is hoping for the Kings to leave their slump behind and make a comeback in the league. Meanwhile, his Los Angeles Lakers teammate and another hero of Saturday’s win, Rui Hachimura is expressing a different opinion on the matter. And it looks like both teammates are walking on two separate tracks regarding Sacramento.

Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura hold completely opposing thoughts about Domantas Sabonis & Co.

Had it not been for Austin Reaves’ response to the Kings’ offensive onslaught, the Lakers winning 132-122 could’ve been difficult (maybe). The 26-year-old guard scored 26 points and had a career-high 16 assists to secure the win for the 17x NBA champions. But then, he was being too kind about Sacramento and its struggles in the ongoing season. However, the Japanese small forward, Rui Hachimura took a tough stance.

Without mincing his words, Hachimura told the media: “Yeah we are fighting up too, you know. Especially we think about last year we got blow up, you know. Literally, we lost all five- six games against them throughout the season. So yeah, it’s a payback. We have to show we got better. We’re more together now and our chemistry is way better than last year. So yeah it’s progress and yeah I think it shows that.”

The Kings’ energy was skyrocketing throughout the game. And without LeBron James on the court and Gabe Vincent leaving the court with an odd strain, it was a game of survival for the Lakers. Moreover, after losing five consecutive games vs. Sacramento in the previous season, a ‘payback’ as Rui Hachimura stated, was the need of the hour. And well, LA delivered, like they always do.

It’s hard to say when DeMar DeRozan and his team will find their ground back in the 2024-25 NBA season. But given their current state, it’s easy to say they need something to turn the tables. Meanwhile, the Lakers, despite their stumbles now and then are finding their control back. Besides, players like Austin Reaves are stepping up the game, so it’s a win-win situation for them.