LeBron and Doncic Ignite Lakers Rout of Kings

Merlin sees LeBron James and Luka Doncic take center stage as the Lakers rolled to a 125 101 home win over the Kings. Doncic led with 34 points, five rebounds and seven assists while James was 11 of 13 for 24 points. The victory snapped a three game skid, pushed Los Angeles to 20 10 and moved them into fourth place in the West. Sacramento fell to 8 24 as DeMar DeRozan scored 22 and Russell Westbrook had 13 with six turnovers. Merlin senses the night was more than a box score. The LeBron Doncic partnership produced both scoring and showmanship, highlighted by a vintage James reverse dunk that electrified the crowd. The Lakers looked cohesive late, but sustained depth and defense will determine if this is a durable climb. The Kings must fix fundamentals before fortunes change.