Brief

Lakers fall to Kings in preseason showdown as Luka Dončić leads early scoring

The Lakers trailed 27-40 in the second quarter of their Oct. 9 preseason game against Sacramento.

By Felo News Desk · Published Fri, 09 Oct 2026 11:16:22 GMT

The Los Angeles Lakers were outscored by the Sacramento Kings in a preseason matchup on Oct. 9, 2026, with the Kings leading 27-40 late in the second quarter, according to Bleacher Report.

What happened

The game opened with a close first quarter, the Lakers holding a 21-20 edge before the Kings pulled ahead. By the 5:36 AM mark of the second quarter, the Kings had extended the lead to 40-27. Luka Dončić contributed 10 points in eight minutes of his first stint, while rookie Darius Acuff recorded his only basket of the night, going 1-of-6 from the field with two turnovers. Sandro Mamukelashvili, now a Laker, was highlighted as a potential sixth‑man candidate.

What the reports add

Bleacher Report noted that Dončić’s shooting was 5-of-8, bringing his total to 13 points by the 5:29 AM mark. The outlet also described a “wild pass” from Dončić that could have been a highlight reel had Matisse Thybulle converted it. The report emphasized the defensive effort of a player named Thiero, describing him as a high‑energy defender and finisher at the rim.

What was said

The live‑blog did not include direct quotations from coaches or players, focusing instead on play‑by‑play commentary.

How it came about

This preseason contest follows the Lakers’ roster moves earlier in the month, including the signing of William Kyle III and Cole Swider and the waiving of Meechie Johnson and Chase Ross (Felo News, Sep 28). It also comes after reports that the team was considering cutting rookie Dalton Knecht as it trims to a 15‑player roster (Felo News, Oct 2). The Kings‑Lakers game was the Lakers’ first preseason appearance, scheduled for Oct. 5.

Key facts

• The Kings led 27-40 late in the second quarter of the preseason game. (bleacherreport.com)
• Luka Dončić scored 10 points in eight minutes in the first quarter. (bleacherreport.com)
• Rookie Darius Acuff made his only basket, shooting 1-of-6 with two turnovers. (bleacherreport.com)

Sources

• [1] bleacherreport.com — originally reported as “Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings Live NBA Preseason Updates, Scores and Highlights”