The Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James are riding a five-game losing streak, the longest active streak in the NBA, into Sunday’s matchup against a precocious but almost eliminated Sacramento Kings team.
The Kings enter Sunday’s matchup with the Lakers 5.5 games out of the playoffs with 10 games left, meaning they’re all but mathematically eliminated from the playoffs if the teams above them keep playing the same way they have all season.
But even before the Lakers post-All-Star swoon, Sacramento was having a much more inspiring season without them. While Sacramento’s trade deadline move of acquiring Harrison Barnes didn’t help them get into the postseason as they hoped, they significantly exceeded expectations while the Lakers certainly have not.
Youngsters Buddy Hield and De’Aaron Fox look like a formidable backcourt for the future in the West and 2018 No. 2 pick Marvin Bagley has gotten better as the season has gone on, averaging 19 points and eight rebounds in the month of March.
A win will be a tough order for the Lakers tonight, even with home court advantage.
