Darius Acuff Jr., the Sacramento Kings’ rookie, scored 19 points in his preseason debut against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night, but the team’s defensive lapses overshadowed his individual performance. Playing 27 minutes at the Golden 1 Center, Acuff looked composed on offense, adding four assists, a block, and a steal in the 127-103 loss.
The No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft didn’t dwell on his scoring but focused on the defensive shortcomings that allowed the Lakers to shoot 50% from the field, including 45% from beyond the arc. Los Angeles made 20 three-pointers, a figure Acuff pointed to as the difference in the game. “I don’t think offense is the problem,” he said after the match. “I think, with defensively, we just wasn’t racking up stops as a team, as much as we needed to. I think that’s kind of what separated the game.”
Despite facing full-court pressure from the Lakers throughout his minutes, Acuff said he welcomed the challenge. “It was the same. It was better for me, picking me up full court. I feel like I like to play against that, so I think that’s an advantage for me,” he told USA TODAY Sports. Acuff added that the experience prepares him for tougher defenders he will face in the regular season. “It takes watching film, just being smart, and, you know, not trying to dribble the air out the ball back there, just trying to get one move and go.”
Kings head coach Doug Christie acknowledged the defensive issues but remained focused on improvement. “You know, helping when you’re not supposed to help, like all the principles of shell defense, help defense, being in a gap, being in to be out, closing out, more middle,” Christie said. “I’m sure the film’s going to show all of that. But this is what we do. We learn, we go back to the film, we show them, we drill it, we get after it.”
Christie’s assessment points to a need for better team coordination on defense, something the Kings struggled with as a unit during the game. The Lakers’ efficient shooting, especially from three-point range, put the Kings on the back foot early. Sacramento’s inability to generate stops was a major factor in the 24-point defeat.
While Acuff’s offensive showing was encouraging, the larger picture remains one of adjustment and growth for the Kings. Forward-guard Daeqwon Plowden, who also spoke to USA TODAY Sports, emphasized the different standards preseason games hold. “It’s the first one outside of us playing each other, so we’re setting the standard. The way we’re evaluated is going to be much higher than what it was,” Plowden said. “I think it’s a lot that we can take away from this and build on.”
No member of the Kings appeared panicked by the result, highlighting that it was just the season’s first preseason outing. Coach Christie framed the loss as a learning opportunity. “They got hit in the mouth,” he said. “And how do we respond?”
Acuff’s debut showed flashes of his scoring ability and calm under pressure, but the defensive struggles exposed gaps the Kings will need to address if they want to compete against stronger teams. The team is expected to review game footage and focus on defensive drills as they prepare for their next preseason games.
According to Yahoo Sports.