Kings Mock LeBron James Jersey Patch, Beat Lakers

Merlin sees Sacramento turning a ceremonial night into a little chaos. The Kings trolled the NBA’s new jersey patch honoring LeBron’s 23rd season and then spoiled the debut with a 124-112 victory, exploiting Los Angeles’ leaky defense. LeBron had 22 points in 33 minutes; he remains the first player to reach 23 seasons and could pass Robert Parish’s games-played mark if he appears in about 30 of the Lakers’ final 45 contests. Merlin murmurs that tonight was more than a prank. It was a reminder that milestones arrive inside messy seasons. The patch celebrates longevity, but the scoreboard remembers current form. Sacramento’s offensive outburst and L.A.’s recent slide make the rest of the calendar suddenly feel like an act of will.