LeBron James, Luka Doncic help Lakers end skid: 'It starts with us' - ESPN

LOS ANGELES — With the Lakers reeling from a three-game slide, a calf injury to Austin Reaves and an air-it-out team meeting coming into Sunday's game against the Sacramento Kings, LeBron James and Luka Doncic led L.A. to a dominant 125-101 win to stabilize things a bit.

«I don't want to create the narrative of [just] me and Luka,» James said. «It's five guys on the floor and seven guys that come off the bench. It needs to be all of us. [But] it's important that we set the tone.»

James went 3-for-3 in the first three minutes of the game, a bit of foreshadowing for what ended up as his most efficient night as a Laker, according to ESPN Insights. He shot 11-for-13 from the field, with his 84.6% field goal percentage not only representing his best as a Laker, but third best of his 23-year career.

«I just felt in a really good rhythm tonight,» James said. «Had a good spring to my step, to my bounce and just tried to make the most out of my touches.»

While James did most of his damage in the opening frame, Doncic handled the bulk of the scoring in the second quarter, when he put up 15 of his game-high 34 points and went 5-for-7 from the floor.

«I think it definitely starts with us,» Doncic said. «And when AR is back, it's going to be all three of us. But now, it starts with us. We need to show what we can do and if we are going to do it, we both are going to do it. The group is going to follow.»

Lakers coach JJ Redick said that it was a carryover for the two from Saturday's practice.

«I'm not surprised at the way those two guys played together tonight, because yesterday was one of the best practices we've had with the two of them playing together and just sharing the basketball and playing two-man action,» Redick said.

L.A.