Acuff, Sabonis double-doubles aren’t enough as Luka, Lakers roll

The Sacramento Kings had a chance to build on Monday’s win in Dallas. Instead, they were reminded just how much work remains.

Sacramento couldn’t slow down NBA leading scorer Luka Doncic, couldn’t get enough production from its bench, and couldn’t make enough shots when the game was within reach.

The Kings fell to the Los Angeles Lakers 116-103 on Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center, dropping to 1-7 on the season (0-3 at home)

There were some positives, including another productive (although inefficient) night from rookie Darius Acuff Jr., but the same issues that have plagued Sacramento through the first weeks of the season continue to show up.

Acuff beats the buzzer with a triple 🎯 https://t.co/NSjSg3M5gN

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) November 5, 2026

Acuff continues to generate offense

Even on a night when his shot wasn’t falling consistently, Darius Acuff Jr. found another way to impact the game.

The rookie finished with 22 points and 12 assists, recording his second career double-double. He shot just 8-for-24 (33%) from the field and 3-for-11 (27%) from three, but his ability to create opportunities for others continues to stand out.

Acuff entered Wednesday ranked ninth in the NBA in scoring, and his recent shooting turnaround has turned heads around the league. After shooting 34% from the field and 20% from three over his first four games, he’s shot 48% and 42%, respectively, over his last three while averaging 32.3 points.

The efficiency wasn’t there against Los Angeles, but the playmaking was. Sacramento has something to build around with this kid, who is still just 19 years old for another couple of weeks.

Zach LaVine was the other Sacramento King to score 20-plus points in the loss, but Acuff has continued to be this team’s offensive engine through eight games, and that won’t change.

Acuff goes to the left for an and-1 😤 https://t.co/HrDRLGLYzc

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) November 5, 2026

The Kings’ bench isn’t giving them enough

This is becoming a pretty significant problem.

Sacramento’s bench managed just 23 points Wednesday night. Malik Monk accounted for 13 of those, while Dylan Cardwell, Leaky Black and Emanuel Sharp combined for just 10.

The Kings need more.

Monk was terrific in Monday’s win over Dallas, scoring 24 points after managing just 19 over his first five games. But Wednesday was a reminder of how inconsistent that production can be.

He shot 5-for-16 (26%), although he did provide a spark in the fourth quarter with a pair of three-pointers.

Sacramento’s starters are carrying too much of the offensive responsibility. That’s a difficult way to win consistently, especially when the team has little room for error elsewhere.

Losing Ben Simmons for the season shortened this team’s depth, and losing Maxime Raynaud, Keegan Murray, and Cardwell for the majorty of games thus far has left head coach Doug Christie with a very thin bench.

Black and Sharp have had some solid moments, but Sacramento is very top-heavy.

LUKA DROPS 40 FOR A THIRD-STRAIGHT TIME 😂🔥

40 IS REGULAR FOR LUKA DONCIC. MVP CAMPAIGN CONTINUES 💰 https://t.co/U9wTZRIxgQ

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 5, 2026

The defensive problems haven’t gone away

Monday’s win offered some hope. Sacramento held Dallas to just 7-of-33 (21%) shooting from three-point range, its best perimeter defensive performance of the season.

That improvement didn’t carry over on Wednesday.

Doncic crossed the 40-point mark, and Sacramento had no reliable answer. The Kings tried different defenders, including Leaky Black and Emanuel Sharp, but couldn’t disrupt his rhythm. Keegan Murray, Sacramento’s best point-of-attack defender, was sorely missed in this one as Doncic torched the Kings’ thin defense.

The bigger concern is that this isn’t an isolated problem. Sacramento entered Wednesday allowing opponents to shoot 37% from three, ranking 22nd in the league. The Kings are also ranked last in points in the paint allowed, surrendering 56.6 per game.

Sacramento may have limited the paint damage in this one, but still managed to commit 24 fouls that led to the Lakers’ 34-of-38 (89%) showing from the foul line

The defensive issues are piling up, and one improved performance in Dallas hasn’t changed that.

Stats & Notes

• Domantas Sabonis: Finished with 16 points and 17 rebounds. He also moved into ninth place on the franchise’s all-time offensive rebounding list, passing Eddie Johnson. Sabonis appeared to exit the game holding his ribs/side at the end of the game, but told the media that he was fine.
• Malik Monk: Finished with 13 points and three made three-pointers after his 24-point breakout in Dallas, although most of his scoring came in the fourth quarter with the game all but out of reach.
• Dylan Cardwell: Returned after missing the first seven games with a calf strain. He had four points and six rebounds in 13 minutes.
• De’Andre Hunter: Finished with 14 points after scoring eight in the first quarter. He couldn’t maintain that early offensive rhythm.
• Nique Clifford continues to log limited stretches of playing time. The first-round pick from last year’s draft hasn’t played more than 10 minutes in a game since the season-opener. Christie said the second-year wing is still learning and finding his way in the rotation.

The Sacramento Kings are now 1-7, and the schedule won’t get any easier.

Sacramento will face the San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, and Oklahoma City Thunder among other teams on this seven-game homestand.

The Sacramento Kings are 0-3 at home. When will they win their first home game?

Upcoming home schedule:

Spurs
Heat
Magic
Blazers
Thunder
Suns
Celtics
Spurs
T-Wolves

— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) November 5, 2026

Sacramento Kings Injury Updates

Keegan Murray (left ankle capsulitis) will be re-evaluated in the next 7-10 days.

Maxime Raynaud (right patellar subluxation) will be re-evaluated next week.

Ben Simmons underwent successful surgery to address a torn right Achilles tendon and will miss the entire 2026-27 season.

More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports

• Deveney: Sabonis isn’t trying to sabotage Acuff or the Kings
• There is no drama between Darius Acuff Jr. & Domantas Sabonis
• Jerry Reynolds questions the Kings’ heavy starter minutes
• Sam Amick shares his intel on Doug Christie’s job security with the Kings

Sacramento Kings 2026-27 Regular Season Schedule

• Friday, November 6th vs. San Antonio Spurs (7:00 P.M. PT)
• Sunday, November 8th vs. Miami Heat (6:00 P.M. PT)
• Tuesday, November 10th vs. Orlando Magic (7:00 P.M. PT)
• Friday, November 13th vs. Portland Trail Blazers (7:00 P.M. PT)
• Sunday, November 15th vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (6:00 P.M. PT)

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