In the end, it was LeBron James who dominated in the fourth quarter, propelling the Los Angeles Lakers (20-19) to a 122-114 victory over the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday.

However, before LeBron got going, the Lakers were buoyed by four of his teammates — in, arguably, surprising fashion.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/46nIk4TxVUchFDsZgQ07xl?si=51e99303eae44828

1) Responsible Russell Westbrook

Coming off a nine-turnover, inefficient performance (though not in his mind) against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, Westbrook was as careful with the rock as he's been in any game this season. Make that seasons.

Westbrook committed zero turnovers in 34 minutes (plus 19 points and seven rebounds). It was the first time since 2016 that he played an NBA game without a giveaway, and the first time he's done so in over 30 minutes since 2013. According to ESPN, he had committed a turnover in 407 consecutive regular-season games — the longest streak since the league began tracking turnovers in 1977.

“Just making easy reads,” Westbrook succinctly explained.

The Lakers entered Tuesday ranked 28th in turnovers per game (15.7). They had a season-low five turnovers vs. Sacramento, compared to 18 by their opponent.

“We won the game because we did not turn the ball over tonight,” LeBron assessed. “Because we didn't turn the ball over, we caught fire.”

Notably, Los Angeles had 15 more shot attempts on the evening.

“I was really proud of his bounce-back performance after having that high turnover night last game,” Frank Vogel said. “That's a great exhibit of ball-security.”

Vogel lauded Russ for reeling in his “relentlessness” and slowing down.

Correspondingly, Westbrook finished with a team-high +17. I don't need to dive into Basketball-Reference to know that if Russ leads the Lakers in plus/minus, that probably means they won the game.

2) Malik Monk continues to shine

Malik Monk had 24 points on 8-of-15 FG, including 6-of-11 from deep. He's averaging 20.7 points over his past six games and shooting 56.5%.

Beyond the numbers, he's playing confident basketball on the offensive end — swaggering into shots, attacking the paint, looking to play-make across all three levels.

“He's always live. He's always a threat,” Vogel commented. “I like his … shot selection and the decisions he's making with the basketball.”

The Lakers head coach complimented Monk's deliveries to LeBron in pick-and-roll situations — an effective two-man combo recently. “Big part of this mini-win streak we have going.”

Monk said he “stopped shooting crazy off-the-dribble step-back threes” as the game wore on and improved his shot selection.

Evidently, LeBron wanted Monk on the Lakers last season.

“It's funny, just a little quick backstory: me and (Jason Kidd) talked a lot last year, we wanted him last year,” LeBron shared. “When Charlotte would play him, then sit him for five or six games … then you would see him have a game in Miami when he had like eight or nine threes … Me and J-Kidd would talk all the time like, ‘Is there a way we can snatch this guy from their roster?' … Through patience and timing, we were able to get him in the summertime … which still kind of doesn't make sense to me, but, we're happy to have him. He's a dynamic player.”

“I'm ready for the moment whenever it happens,” Monk said.

 

3) The return of THT

Talen Horton-Tucker has stumbled since he returned from health and safety protocols. Overall, the 21-year old has had a slew of obstacles thrown his way through the first half of his second full NBA season — a two-month wrist injury, three stellar games before having to adjust to LeBron's return, a bout with COVID-19, shifting between various lineups and roles.

THT averaged 7.4 points on 30.5% shooting since rejoining the team on Dec. 21, and frequently looked out of sorts and/or lost.

“I try to treat every game the same way — through the times when I wasn't shooting the ball well, I still was going out there shooting,” Horton-Tucker said. “I didn't lose any confidence at all, even if I played bad … I feel like that's how I go to this point I'm at now.”

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In his pregame remarks, Vogel acknowledged that the ultimate role for THT — the fourth highest-paid player on the team — was still TBD.

On Tuesday, Talen got his groove back. In 33 minutes off the bench, Horton-Tucker made his first three-pointer and had his highest-scoring game (19 points) since Dec. 12. He drained 9-of-13 shot attempts, plus six assists and four rebounds.

“It was phenomenal. It was so rewarding. It was amazing to see Talo get back to himself once again,” LeBron said. “We've been missing that…We needed everything he gave us tonight.”

Vogel pointed out the varying ways players around the league — including THT and Dwight Howard — have rebounded from a stint in protocols, often needing a few games to feel right again.

“Talen has been struggling. It was just a matter of time before he was going to break out and become himself again. He was terrific. Not just scoring the basketball, but I thought his defense was really good and a big part of us winning those backup minutes.”

4) Dwight Howard staying ready

Credit to Dwight — the Lakers had gone fully centerless in three of the prior four games, meaning DNP-CDs for the eight-time All-Star. Yet, Howard remained supportive and ready as the Lakers experimented with a new identity.

Against Sacramento, Vogel called on Howard to play his first minutes in six days. Dwight responded with an energized 14 points and 14 rebounds in 22 minutes, including multiple above-the-rim efforts.

 

“Dwight's been a productive player for us this year,” Vogel added. “He did reward me for throwing him in there and played a hell of a game … I want to commend him on that.”

“One thing I like about our group is everybody is always ready,” Russ said.

As for LeBron James, he was amidst one of his least productive games of the season until breaking out for a determined 14 points in the final eight minutes.

He finished with 31 points — his eighth 30+ point showing in nine contests.

He remains, at age 37, at “mother-f*cking problem, b*tch.”

His words, not mine.