DeMar DeRozan had plenty to say after the Sacramento Kings’ 127-120 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, and not all of it was about Austin Reaves’ 51-point performance.
While Reaves’ career night stole the headlines, DeRozan’s frustration centered on the officiating that helped fuel it, per Bleacher Report. The six-time All-Star could not hide his irritation with how often the Lakers found their way to the free-throw line compared to his Kings.
“Forty-six free throws to 18? And we had to beg for most of those,” DeRozan told reporters after the game. “It’s deflating. Especially when we’re going out there trying to play hard, trying to compete. It seemed like we’re getting called for fouls, but on the other end when we try to be aggressive, nothing goes our way. It’s kind of deflating at times, especially when you’re trying to get it going… Forty-six free throws is crazy.”
DeRozan Questions Free-Throw Disparity
The Lakers entered the matchup without LeBron James and Luka Doncic, leaving Reaves to shoulder the offensive load. He delivered one of the best performances of his young career, tallying 51 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists while knocking down six three-pointers.
Reaves also made repeated trips to the line, finishing with 22 free-throw attempts, more than the entire Kings roster combined. Twenty-one of his points came from the stripe, a number DeRozan said “you just don’t see.”
Asked where Reaves caused the most trouble, DeRozan kept his answer short, Sports Illustrated reports. “The free-throw line. Twenty-two free throws for him,” he said.
It was not just DeRozan who noticed the imbalance. The Kings shot 18 free throws as a team, one of their lowest totals in recent memory, while Los Angeles attempted 46. That disparity became a focal point after the game, as both players and fans questioned whether the officiating had decided the outcome.
Reaves Draws Praise While Kings Get Criticism
Even with the controversy, Austin Reaves’ performance drew praise from around the league. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith applauded Reaves’ effort while calling out the Kings for letting it happen, per ClutchPoints.
“Second-most points in NBA history by an undrafted player. Major props to Austin Reaves,” Smith said on First Take. “But what an indictment against the Sacramento Kings. No LeBron, no Luka, and you get outshined by Austin Reaves?”
Reaves became just the fourth undrafted player in NBA history to score at least 50 points in a game, joining Fred VanVleet in that rare company. His poise under pressure impressed even his opponents, though DeRozan made it clear the whistle played a major part in the Lakers guard’s success.
Through three games this season, Reaves has emerged as one of Los Angeles’ most consistent scorers. His combination of confidence, skill, and fearlessness has given the Lakers a reliable option whenever their stars rest.
DeRozan, meanwhile, finished with 21 points and six rebounds in the loss. He said he has never been part of a game with that kind of free-throw imbalance in his 17-year career.
Statistically, his frustration was warranted. The Lakers’ 46 free-throw attempts rank among the ten highest single-game totals by any team over the past three seasons. Reaves’ 22 attempts are also the sixth most by an individual player in that same span.
Despite the disappointment, Sacramento will not have long to dwell on the loss, with another Western Conference matchup looming this week. Still, DeMar DeRozan’s postgame comments captured the irritation of a veteran who felt his team did not get a fair chance to compete.
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