The Los Angeles Lakers scored a come-from-behind 121-114 win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night at the Staples Center, snapping their two-game skid. Lakers sophomore guard Josh Hart liked what he saw from their team, showing the much-needed poise down the stretch.
Los Angeles trailed by seven points with less than five minutes left to play in the game. The Lakers got into their groove, and unleashed a huge 12-0 rally to turn the tables around. They never looked back, as they ran away and ended the year on a winning note.
Hart said that the young Lakers squad had a “maturity game” against the Kings. The 23-year-old said that they finally displayed solid composure down the stretch, unlike in their last two games. Los Angeles suffered a late collapse in their defeats to the Kings and Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday and Friday, respectively.
“That was a big maturity game for us,” Hart said via Ryan Ward. “You know, we gave up one that we should've had and then we were up 10 to the Clippers last game, so we knew we had to bounce back, grow up, man up and take defense personally and execute on offense.”
Hart finished with 22 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals. He also made a huge basket over De'Aaron Fox with 54.1 seconds left in the game, which gave the Lakers a five-point lead.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope erupted for 26 points, while Brandon Ingram tallied 21 points and nine assists. Kyle Kuzma posted 18 points for the Lakers, who played without superstar LeBron James and Rajon Rondo. James remains out with a groin injury, while Rondo recently underwent hand surgery.
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