Anthony Davis, Lakers spoil interim coach Doug Christie's Kings debut with 132-122 win

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Anthony Davis had 36 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists in the Los Angeles Lakers' 132-122 win over Sacramento on Saturday night in the Kings’ first game under interim coach Doug Christie.

LeBron James didn’t play for the Lakers because of illness, but a balanced effort helped make up for his absence, led by Austin Reaves with 26 points and a career-high 16 assists. Rui Hachimura had 21 points, Max Christie chipped in with 16 and Dalton Knecht had 18 off the bench.

Playing for the first time since Mike Brown was fired on Friday in controversial fashion, De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 29 points and 12 assists, and DeMar DeRozan had 25 points.

Los Angeles erupted for 12 straight points to end the third and start the fourth to open up a 20-point advantage.

Sacramento got it to 123-117 with less than four minutes to go, but Reaves and Christie made sure the home team held on.

Kings: Doug Christie made it 15 years in the NBA because of his commitment to defense. He'll need to instill that into his team after the Kings gave up 33 free-throw attempts.

Lakers: Reaves' playmaking isn't needed as much when James is in the lineup, but he can distribute the ball when he is asked to.

Domantas Sabonis picked up his fifth foul with 4:17 left in the third, and the power forward was missed as the Lakers pulled away by attacking the paint when he was on the bench. He would foul out with 5:20 remaining in the game.

The Lakers are now 2-1 without James in the lineup, with Hachimura helping out in both wins. He had 23 against Portland on Dec. 8.

The Kings host Dallas on Monday, and the Lakers continue their four-game homestand against Cleveland on Tuesday.

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Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) shoots as Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles (41) and guard Keon Ellis (23) defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles (41) and Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) grapple for a rebound tpkduring the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Sacramento Kings interim head coach Doug Christie claps during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, second from right, shoots as Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis, left, guard De'Aaron Fox, second from left, and guard Malik Monk defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Kam Jones had 18 points and 10 assists to lead a balanced Marquette offense as the No. 8 Golden Eagles cruised to a 78-50 win over Providence on Tuesday night.

Stevie Mitchell added 14 points on 5-8 shooting for Marquette, which made 11 threes. David Joplin and Zaide Lowry each had 11 points for the Golden Eagles (12-2, 3-0 Big East). They were up 47-20 at halftime and led by as many as 32 points during the closing stages.

Wesley Cardet had 11 points off the bench for Providence (7-7, 1-2). The Friars shot 34% from the field.

Marquette: With former Marquette All-American/current New York Knicks guard Tyler Kolek watching from a baseline seat, the Golden Eagles concluded December winning three straight – all over Big East opponents – after opening the month dropping two of their first three games.

Providence: Bryce Hopkins missed his third straight game. The All-Big East forward went through pregame warmups – something he didn’t do in the previous two games he sat out. Nearly one full calendar year removed from suffering an ACL surgery that required surgery, Hopkins returned to the Friar lineup on Dec. 3 against BYU and appeared in three consecutive games before suffering a setback.

Marquette used a 21-0 surge to wipe out Providence’s 8-2 run that opened the game. During that stretch, the Golden Eagles were aided by nine Friar turnovers that translated into 16 points.

Winning in Providence for the first time since 2019, Marquette forced 14 turnovers in the first half, 22 for the game. Those turnovers directly led to 27 points for the Golden Eagles.

Marquette returns home to host Creighton on Friday. Providence visits No. 11 UConn on Sunday.

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Marquette guard Kam Jones, left, and Marquette forward David Joplin, right, pressure Providence forward Oswin Erhunmwunse, center, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)