Kings 124, Lakers 112: Luka Dončić posts 70.4 fantasy points
Hiro Tanaka
Physical Therapy Assistant · Los Angeles Lakers fan
Malik Monk Just Became Your New Favorite Sixth Man, and the Kings Just Sent a Message
Sacramento just walked into LA and flexed on the Lakers 124-112, and it wasn't even close down the stretch. But here's the real fantasy story: Malik Monk went absolutely nuclear off the bench, and Precious Achiuwa is about to blow up your waiver wire. Meanwhile, LeBron and the Lakers got exposed, and we need to talk about what's actually going on with this team.
Tonight's Top Performers
| Player | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | vs Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luka Dončić | 70.4 | 42/7/8 | 33.6/7.7/8.7 | +8.4 pts |
| DeMar DeRozan | 52.4 | 32/2/6 | 19.1/3.4/3.9 | +12.9 pts |
| Malik Monk | 40.2 | 26/1/8 | 11.8/2.0/2.4 | +14.2 pts |
| Russell Westbrook | 36.5 | 22/5/7 | 14.8/6.5/7.0 | +7.2 pts |
| Deandre Ayton | 34.1 | 13/13/1 | 13.9/8.7/0.9 | +4.3 reb |
| LeBron James | 31.3 | 22/4/3 | 22.7/5.8/6.9 | -3.9 ast |
The Winners
DeMar DeRozan went absolutely OFF. 32 points on 14-19 shooting, and he's up +12.9 from his season average. Look, I'm a Lakers fan and it stings, but DeRozan is playing like an All-NBA guy right now. He's been averaging 19.1 PPG, and tonight he punished us with 32. That's the kind of night that reminds you why Sacramento went and got him. This isn't a fluke. Keep rolling with him.
Malik Monk is the real story here, though. This dude dropped 26 points with 7 threes off the bench, and he's +14.2 from his season average of 11.8 PPG. Nine of his 15 shots fell, and he was getting clean looks all night. The usage is real. Sacramento's giving him runway, and he's proving he can be a legitimate scoring weapon. Ownership just jumped 4.3 percent league-wide, and that's justified. Don't sleep on him anymore.
Luka Dončić made 16 of 25 shots for 42 points. He went off, and yeah, the Lakers lost, which hurts my soul. But he was +8.4 from his season average, which tells you this was elite execution, not just a volume explosion. He had 8 assists too. Keep starting him with full confidence.
The Letdowns
LeBron James put up 22/4/3, which sounds fine until you realize he's averaging 6.9 assists and only had 3 tonight. That's -3.9 from his average, and it matters. Thirty-three minutes with limited ball movement is a red flag. The Lakers got run out of the gym, and LeBron couldn't create off the perimeter like usual. One bad night doesn't tank a dude, but the assist dip is worth monitoring going forward.
Marcus Smart was truly abysmal. Zero for five from the field in 30 minutes. That's the kind of game that tanks your week if he's a regular in your lineup. He's been averaging 9.4 PPG and delivered basically nothing. This is a move on vibe, not panic, since Smart's a career shooter.
The Trends
Precious Achiuwa is the biggest play to make here. Dude grabbed 7 rebounds in 30 minutes with 9 points and a block. He's +4.3 on the board from his season average, and that's with limited scoring. Sacramento's playing him serious minutes, and the rebounding is there. He was only 7.4 percent owned before this game. That's about to change. Grab him now if he's still available.
Deandre Ayton pulled down 13 boards despite only scoring 13 points. That's elite rebounding volume, and it's exactly why he's still a top-50 guy. The Lakers are running through him more when Austin Reaves is out, and the board work is consistent. He's 75 percent owned, so you probably have him, but don't panic if you do.
The Moves
Add: Precious Achiuwa (Sacramento). Dude is getting 30 minutes, operating off the bench in a deep rotation, and showing real rebounding chops. Seven boards in 30 minutes is legit. Sacramento's not going away, and Achiuwa's the kind of role player who suddenly becomes valuable in deeper leagues.
Drop: Marcus Smart if you need the spot. Zero for five is rough, and there are guards with better floors in the waiver right now. He's streaky, and this was the wrong side of the streak.
Trade Target: DeMar DeRozan. If you have depth at wing and someone owns DeRozan, start talking. His +12.9 tonight isn't an outlier, it's a pattern. He's quietly been one of the best buys at the trade deadline, and the Kings have committed to him.
Next Up
Sacramento looks locked in. The Kings are clicking when it matters, and Monk's role is expanding. Watch how much run he gets next game because 31 minutes with that efficiency could become his new baseline.
The Lakers need serious conversations. Reaves being out is a bigger problem than anyone's saying. When your best playmaker isn't there, LeBron can't create enough offensively, and the whole machine stalls. Get well soon, AR, because LA can't afford another game like this.