Scores for Anthony Davis and LeBron James in the Lakers’ win over the Kings

Don’t look now, but the Lakers have won three straight games, are currently the fifth seed in the West and have already clinched the season series against the Kings.

After Lakers head coach JJ Redick added Max Christie to the starting lineup, the team is getting rolling. They went to Sacramento and won two games on the road against the Kings. Their most recent victory came on Saturday afternoon with a 103-99 victory over Sacramento.

So, let’s dive into victory. As always, grades are based on each player’s expectations. The grade “B” represents that player’s average performance.

Rui Hachimura

38 minutes, 9 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 4-8 FG, 1-5 3PT, +10

Rui’s performance on Saturday is an example of why Redick trusts him so much, and recent reports suggest the Lakers view him as a long-term part of the franchise.

Hachimura shot an efficient 50 percent from the field, but what impressed him was all the little things he did, especially toward the end of the game.

When the Lakers had a lead of two, Anthony Davis missed two crucial free throws, but Rui directed the ball and gave the ball back to the Lakers. The play helped prevent a potential late-game collapse and ensured the Lakers walked away victorious.

Throughout the game, Rui constantly rushed the boards, tagging along to Domantas Sabonis and even registering a block and a steal. This was his best game of the season for the purple and gold.

Grade: A

Anthony Davis

37 minutes, 10 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks, 4-10 FG, 2-4 FT, -2

That was a tough night for Davis. He was dead offensively in the first half and couldn’t get to the line. He missed two crucial free throws that almost cost the Lakers the game.

Defensively he was still solid, but this is a game AD would like to soon forget. However, he should remember the missed free throws because that needs to be cleaned up. Even his wife points it out to him.

Grade: C

LeBron James

34 minutes, 32 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, 13-24 FG, 1-8 3PT, 5-6 FT, +10

In the first half, LeBron was unstoppable. He had 23 points, including a monster slam dunk that electrified the team and the Lakers fans in attendance.

Since returning from his foot injury, LeBron has been buoyant and leading the team’s offense.

The biggest flaw in his game on Saturday was his 3-point shooting. He went 1-for-8 from distance, and while 3-pointers may not be his favorite, LeBron must be making more than just one per game if he’s shooting that many.

Grade: A

Austin Reaves

36 minutes, 16 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 6-14 FG, 1-7 3PT, 3-5 FT, +10

Reaves followed up his 25-point performance on Thursday with 16 points on Saturday. He spent a lot of time handling the ball and did well, with five assists on the night and only two turnovers.

This is Reaves’ fourth season in the NBA and he’s really coming into his own. He has established himself as a guard the Lakers can trust and rely on to make impactful plays.

Grade: B+

Max Christie

18 minutes, 5 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 2-4 FG, 1-2 3PT, +3

The main reason Christie starts is his defensive ability against wide players. He did a good job against the Kings’ guards on Saturday, but his offense was quiet.

He hit a nice corner 3-pointer and had a strong two-handed dunk, but there wasn’t much else from him offensively. If he continues to start games for the Lakers, he can hopefully be closer to a double-digit scorer in the future.

Grade: B-

D’Angelo Russell

30 minutes, 20 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 7-13 FG, 3-7 3PT, 3-4 FT, +1

D’Lo has struggled to find his role on this team, but it looks like he’s starting to find his feet. Against Sacramento, he scored with ease, driving to the basket, knocking down threes and handing out dimes.

He may not have been in the starting lineup, but he came on after 30 minutes and is one of the main reasons the Lakers have looked so good lately.

Grade: B+

Cam Reddish

22 minutes, 5 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 2-7 FG, 0-3 3PT, 1-2 FT, +0

If Russell goes into games because of his goals, then Reddish plays because of his defensive abilities. In this contest, he took deflections, blocked shots and even showed signs of life offensively.

For someone who plays as much as Reddish, you probably need more from him in terms of scoring, but overall he had a good game against the Kings.

Grade: B

Gabe Vincent

16 minutes, 6 points, 1 steal, 2-3 FG, 2-3 3PT, -4

Vincent didn’t fill up the stat sheet, but he did knock down a few 3-point shots. If he can do this reliably, then a few shifts per night are in order for the security guard.

Grade: B

Christian Koloko, Dalton Knecht

Koloko and Knecht only played a few minutes and are therefore not counted. Knecht can’t find a rhythm outside and Koloko only comes in to give AD an occasional breather.

JJ Redick

Redick did a great job tinkering with the rotations and playing the right lineups throughout the game. On Saturday, he played on a tight bench, essentially just eight players, and it worked. With the Lakers playing their best basketball of the season, it’s hard to complain about Redick’s coaching.

Grade: A

Saturday’s DNPs: Armel Traore

Inactive on Saturday: Jalen Hood-Schifino, Christian Wood, Jaxson Hayes, Jarred Vanderbilt, Bronny James, Maxwell Lewis, Quincy Olivari

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.