Luka Doncic Drops 40 Points as Lakers Beat Kings 116-103

Luka Doncic scored 40 points with 9 rebounds and 7 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings 116-103 on Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. It was his third straight 40-point game, his sixth straight game with at least 35 points, and the fifth 40-point game of his season. The win moved the Lakers to 7-2, while the Kings fell to 1-7.

The night also put Doncic into rare historical company. He now has 308 points through his first eight games of the season, the first player to top 300 points in his first eight games since Michael Jordan scored 303 in 1988-89. Only Wilt Chamberlain has scored more points in his first eight games of a season, with a high of 418 in 1962-63.

Quick Facts

Doncic Takes Over in the Second Quarter

The game was still close early in the second quarter when Doncic decided it. He scored 11 straight points for the Lakers in a personal 11-2 run that broke the game open, hitting jumpers from 16, 27, 29 and 30 feet in one stretch. By halftime he already had 23 points, and it was the sixth straight game in which he scored at least 20 points in the first half.

That kind of first-half scoring is rare. Doncic did it once before as a member of the Dallas Mavericks in 2023, and Allen Iverson did it in 2005. Those are the only such first-half streaks in the past 30 seasons. Lakers coach JJ Redick put it simply after the game, saying the stretch was probably the hottest he can remember from Doncic, and comparing it to last March, when Doncic averaged 37.5 points over 16 games.

Doncic finished shooting 11 of 23 from the field, including 6 of 13 from three-point range, and 12 of 13 from the free throw line. He added 9 rebounds and 7 assists, leading the Lakers in both categories as well as scoring, and his free throws helped hold off Sacramento in the fourth quarter.

There was also an unusual moment late in the third quarter. After a ball went out of bounds, a fan near the baseline threw the ball aggressively at official Chelisa Painter. Doncic immediately pointed at the fan, and security removed him from his seat.

A Historic Start: 308 Points in Eight Games

He has played in eight of the Lakers’ first nine games and scored 308 points in those eight, the most through eight games since Michael Jordan scored 303 in the 1988-89 season. The only player who has ever scored more in his first eight games of a season is Wilt Chamberlain, who did it three times, with a high of 418 points in 1962-63.

Doncic also became the first player in NBA history with six straight games of at least 35 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 made three-pointers. He joined Kobe Bryant and Elgin Baylor as the only Lakers ever to score at least 35 points in six straight games. The run started with 52 points against Utah on October 25, followed by 41, 37, 45, 42 and 40.

Asked after the game whether he had ever been hotter, Doncic was modest. He said maybe, and that he has had some good stretches in his career, but that this could be one of the highest ones, with still some work to do. That answer fits the way he has played this season: confident, but focused on the next game rather than the history he is making.

Historic individual nights have been a theme across the league this week. For another eye-catching performance, see our report on Victor Wembanyama posting 52 points, 24 rebounds and 8 blocks against the Mavericks.

How the Lakers Pulled Away

Doncic did not do it alone. Austin Reaves added 21 points, and Walker Kessler scored 15 points with 8 rebounds and 4 blocks, providing energy and rim protection. The Lakers stretched their lead as high as 18 points, and even when Sacramento pushed back, Los Angeles had answers at both ends of the floor.

The Kings had their own bright spots. Rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr. led Sacramento with 22 points and 12 assists, Zach LaVine scored 21, and Domantas Sabonis added 16 points and 17 rebounds. But the Kings could not slow Doncic or keep pace after the Lakers’ second-quarter run. Sacramento fell to 1-7, with losses in all three home games, and could not build on its first win of the season, which came Monday at Dallas.

The Lakers’ defense deserves part of the credit too. Holding a team to 103 points on the road is a solid result, and the Lakers’ 13 blocks as a team, including four from Kessler, made it hard for Sacramento to finish inside.

Team news around the league moves fast at this time of year, and not all of it is about scoring. In the NFL, for example, our report on Brandon Aiyuk returning to the 49ers after reinstatement papers were filed shows how quickly a roster picture can change. In the NBA, the Lakers’ picture is changing in the opposite direction: a team that looked uncertain a few weeks ago now looks like one of the early-season favorites.

What It Means for the Lakers

The Lakers improved to 7-2 with the win, their third straight victory and their seventh win in nine games. That is a strong start for a team that entered the season with questions about how its pieces would fit together. Doncic is answering the biggest question by himself, but the supporting cast is doing its part too.

The win was also Doncic’s 100th game with the Lakers, a milestone that makes the historical comparisons feel even more fitting. To join Kobe Bryant and Elgin Baylor on a Lakers scoring list in his 100th game with the franchise is the kind of moment that will be remembered long after the regular season ends.

There is still a long way to go. Nine games is a small sample, and the Lakers will face tougher tests than a struggling Kings team. But the early signs are encouraging. Doncic is healthy, in rhythm, and playing with confidence, and his teammates are feeding off his energy. If he keeps scoring at anything close to this pace, the Lakers will be hard to beat on most nights.

Injuries are the one thing that can slow a hot team down, and every contender watches its health closely. Our report on Jack Campbell improving from a neck injury with the Lions is a reminder that a single health update can change a team’s outlook overnight. For now, the Lakers are healthy and winning, and that is all a contender can ask for in early November.

What Comes Next for Both Teams

The Lakers return home to host the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night in an NBA Cup game. Portland beat the Lakers 136-129 on October 27 despite 41 points from Doncic, so the rematch carries a little extra edge. The Lakers will want to show that the earlier loss was an exception, and Doncic will have a chance to extend his streak against the same opponent.

The Kings, meanwhile, host the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night. San Antonio is one of the teams Sacramento will need to beat if it wants to climb out of its early hole, but the Kings will have to do it without the home crowd advantage working in their favor so far. They are winless at home, and their 1-7 record leaves little room for more slow starts.

For Doncic, the next milestone is simple: keep the streak alive. Seven straight games with at least 35 points would push him further into territory no Laker has reached in decades. The scoring race, the MVP conversation, and the Lakers’ place in the West will all be shaped by whether this run continues or cools off.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many points did Luka Doncic score against the Kings?

Doncic scored 40 points with 9 rebounds and 7 assists in the Lakers’ 116-103 win over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. He shot 11 of 23 from the field, 6 of 13 from three, and 12 of 13 from the free throw line.

What record did Doncic set with 308 points in eight games?

Doncic became the first player to top 300 points in his first eight games of a season since Michael Jordan scored 303 in 1988-89. Only Wilt Chamberlain has scored more in his first eight games, with a high of 418 in 1962-63.

How long is Doncic’s 35-point streak?

Six straight games with at least 35 points, including three straight 40-point games. He also became the first player in NBA history with six straight games of at least 35 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 made three-pointers.

Who else scored for the Lakers and Kings?

Austin Reaves added 21 points and Walker Kessler had 15 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks for the Lakers. For Sacramento, rookie Darius Acuff Jr. had 22 points and 12 assists, Zach LaVine scored 21, and Domantas Sabonis had 16 points and 17 rebounds.

Sources

• ESPN: Luka Doncic Again Puts Up 40 as Torrid Stretch Continues
• theScore: Luka Continues Hot Start With 40-Point Performance in Win
• Outsiders Sports: The Storm, November 5, 2026

Final Thoughts

Luka Doncic is playing the best basketball of his life, and the Lakers are riding it to one of the best starts in the league. Forty points against the Kings was his third straight 40-point game, his sixth straight game with at least 35, and the night he passed a mark Michael Jordan set 38 years ago. The Kings had no answer for a player who can score from 30 feet, get to the line, and find teammates when the defense collapses. Friday brings Portland and a chance at revenge for an earlier loss.