Ratings for Anthony Davis, LeBron James in Lakers win vs. Kings

Don’t look now, but the Lakers have won three straight games, are currently the fifth seed in the West and have already clinched the season series against the Kings.

With Lakers head coach JJ Redick deploying Max Christie in the starting lineup, the team is rolling. They went to Sacramento and won two games on the road against the Kings. Their most recent victory came on Saturday afternoon when they beat Sacramento 103-99.

So let’s dive into the victory. As always, ratings are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance of that player.

Rui Hachimura

38 minutes, 9 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 4-8 FG, 1-5 3PT, +10

Rui’s performance on Saturday is an example of why Redick trusts him so much, and recent reports suggest the Lakers see him as a long-term piece for the franchise.

Hachimura shot an efficient 50% from the field, but what was impressive was all the little things he did, especially late in the game.

With the Lakers ahead by two, Anthony Davis missed two key free throws, but Rui tipped the ball back to give the Lakers possession. The play helped avoid a potential late-game collapse and ensured the Lakers walked away victorious.

Throughout the game, Rui constantly crashed the boards, switched to Domantas Sabonis and even recorded a block and a steal. This was his best game of the season for the purple and gold.

Grade: A

Anthony Davis

37 minutes, 10 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks, 4-10 FG, 2-4 FT, -2

It was a rough night for Davis. He was offensively dead in the first half and did not get to the line. When he did, he missed two key free throws that nearly cost the Lakers the game.

He was still solid defensively, but it’s a game AD would like to soon forget. However, he should remember the missed free throws, because that needs to be cleaned up. Even his wife calls him out about it.

Grade: C

LeBron James

34 minutes, 32 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, 13-24 FG, 1-8 3PT, 5-6 FT, +10

In the first half, LeBron was unstoppable. He had 23 points, including a monstrous slam dunk that electrified the team and the Lakers fans in attendance.

Since returning from his foot injury, LeBron has had a spring in his step and has led the team’s offensive attack.

The biggest flaw in his game on Saturday was his 3-point shooting. He went 1-8 from deep, and while the 3-point shot may not be what he worries about the most, LeBron needs to make more than just one per game. battle if he takes so many.

Grade: A

Austin Reaves

36 minutes, 16 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 6-14 FG, 1-7 3PT, 3-5 FT, +10

Reaves followed up his 25-point performance Thursday with 16 points Saturday. He spent a decent amount of time handling the ball and did it well, with five assists on the night and just two turnovers.

This is Reaves’ fourth season in the NBA and he is really coming into his own. He has established himself as a guard the Lakers can rely on and rely on to make impact plays.

Grade: B+

Max Christie

18 minutes, 5 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 2-4 FG, 1-2 3PT, +3

The main reason Christie starts is because of the defensive ability he has on perimeter players. He did a good job against the Kings’ guards on Saturday, but his offense was quiet.

He hit a nice corner 3-pointer and had a strong two-handed dunk, but not much else from him offensively. Hopefully, if he continues to start games for the Lakers, he can be closer to a double-digit scorer moving forward.

Grade: B-

D’Angelo Russell

30 minutes, 20 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 7-13 FG, 3-7 3PT, 3-4 FT, +1

D’Lo has struggled to find his role on this team, but it looks like he’s starting to come into his own. He scored with ease against Sacramento, driving to the basket, hitting 3-pointers and dishing out dimes.

He may not have started, but he logged 30 minutes and is a big reason the Lakers have looked so good recently.

Grade: B+

Cam Reddish

22 minutes, 5 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 2-7 FG, 0-3 3PT, 1-2 FT, +0

If Russell is in the game for his scoring, then Reddish is in the game because of his defensive ability. In this contest, he got deflections, blocked shots and even showed signs of life offensively.

For someone who plays as much as Reddish, you probably need more from him when he’s scoring, but overall he had a good game against the Kings.

Grade: B

Gabe Vincent

16 minutes, 6 points, 1 steal, 2-3 FG, 2-3 3PT, -4

Vincent didn’t fill the stat sheet, but he knocked down a couple of 3-pointers. If he can reliably do that, then a few shifts at night for the guard is appropriate.

Grade: B

Christian Koloko, Dalton Knecht

Koloko and Knecht played for just a few minutes, so they will not be judged. Knecht can’t find any rhythm out there and Koloko only comes in to give AD a breather.

JJ Redick

Redick has done a good job, cracking the rotations and playing the right lineups throughout the game. On Saturday, he ran a tight bench with basically only eight players, and it worked. With the Lakers playing their best basketball of the season, it’s hard to complain about Redick’s workouts.

Grade: A

Saturday’s DNPs: Armel Traore

Saturday’s inactives: Jalen Hood-Schifino, Christian Wood, Jaxson Hayes, Jarred Vanderbilt, Bronny James, Maxwell Lewis, Quincy Olivari

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.