Luka Doncic is still strong, but the Kings are rallying to beat the Lakers

After slow-playing stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves rotated different lineups to fit an unreasonably demanding six-game preseason schedule and gave their players more playing time, the Lakers buttoned up the rotation for one final preseason game Friday that coach JJ Redick called a “dress rehearsal.”

With the curtain finally rising on Tuesday, the Lakers aren’t quite ready for the show.

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Doncic dazzled with 31 points, nine assists and five rebounds to lead five of the Lakers’ double-digit scorers, but the Kings came back to win 117-116 at Crypto.com Arena. Despite playing without Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozen or Malik Monk, the Kings still shot 54.7 percent from the field, led by 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting from former Laker Dennis Schroder.

Lakers guard Dalton Knecht hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 9.4 seconds left, but Kings forward Isaac Jones made a game-winning free throw with 0.8 seconds left after being fouled by Nick Smith Jr.

While Doncic and Austin Reaves (eight points, four rebounds and eight assists) played together for the first time in a preseason game, the Lakers were still without superstar LeBron James, who remains out with a sciatica issue in his right hip. His absence, which is expected to last at least until November, has forced the Lakes to reevaluate their starting lineup.

Redick revealed his first pick to fill the role, adding guard Gabe Vincent to the starting lineup along with Reaves, Doncic, forward Rui Hachimura and center Deandre Ayton. Vincent, who averaged 17 points in his first three preseason games while shooting 50 percent from three-point range, continued his impressive preseason with 14 points on five-of-six shooting with four 3-pointers.

The 29-year-old, who has battled injuries the past two seasons, played most of the preseason without Doncic or Reaves, but slotted into the starting lineup Friday as a potential solution to James’ absence.

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“His ability to shoot the ball in such tight windows; he makes shots that I never even thought about making in situations,” Reaves said before the game Friday. “…And it can’t happen to a better guy. He’s one of the leaders on this team. A guy who leads by example. He shows up to work every single day, with a smile on his face.”

Marcus Smart, whose preseason got off to a slow start due to Achilles tendinopathy, came off the bench for 14 points with three rebounds. Seen as a potential starting option after signing as a free agent in the offseason, Smart played 20 minutes without a shot attempt in his preseason debut Tuesday. Redick lamented that he wished the team could have gotten him a chance in his first preseason action.

On Friday, the key free agent addition was tentative at the start of the offense. He gave up shots to unselfishly force the ball through traffic. When the Lakers missed a transition opportunity, Smart, who had an open lane to the basket but tried to pass the ball back to a teammate to only turn it over, patted his chest apologetically toward the Lakers’ bench.

But Smart rebounded for 11 points in the second half. The former NBA Defensive Player of the Year continued his gritty play by diving into the air to intercept a pass. He started on offense, dancing along the wing, then headed to the basket for an acrobatic layup.

Announcement

James will not be re-evaluated until the last week of October. The team’s initial timeline that he would be re-evaluated in three to four weeks covers the first nine games of the regular season. It will be the first time in James’ 23-season NBA career that he will miss the season opener.

On Friday, the 40-year-old superstar sat at the end of the bench on a raised cushion.

The Lakers were also without Bronny James (ankle) and rookie Adou Thiero (knee). Center Jaxson Hayes, who had three monster dunks in the first half, didn’t play the second half due to a bruised right wrist.

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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.