Sacramento @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 24, 2019 ) Sacramento 106, L.A. Lakers 111

Star power forward Anthony Davis is expected to be back in the lineup when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Sacramento Kings on Friday. Davis sat out Wednesday's 120-94 home trouncing of the Golden State Warriors due to shoulder and rib injuries with X-rays on the rib coming back negative.

The Lakers carried on just fine without Davis as LeBron James recorded 23 points and 12 assists and fellow forward Kyle Kuzma scored 22 points to improve the team's record to 9-2, second-best in the NBA. "Playing with LeBron, he's the center of attention at all times," Kuzma told reporters. "Everybody's looking at him, so sometimes when guys come here, they're not really used to having wide-open shots, and that's something that he supplies." Sacramento coach Luke Walton makes his first return to Los Angeles since being fired last April after going 98-148 in three seasons with the Lakers. The Kings have won four of their past five games after opening the Walton era with five straight setbacks.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports California (Sacramento), Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE KINGS (4-6): Backup sharpshooter Bogdan Bogdanovic posted season highs of 25 points, 10 assists and four steals as Sacramento recorded a 107-99 victory over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. Bogdanovic was handling the ball more than usual with point guard De'Aaron Fox (ankle) sidelined and the offense was crisp as the Kings continue to feel rejuvenated after overcoming their poor start. "Even when we were losing, I felt the chemistry building," Bogdanovic told reporters afterward. "You just have to be focused and keep believing and be positive, and work every day."

ABOUT THE LAKERS (9-2): Kuzma is averaging 22.5 points over the past two games as he progresses from the foot injury that caused him to miss the first four games of the season. "He's really stepped up the past two games," Los Angeles coach Frank Vogel told reporters after the win over Golden State. "It's not really a surprise, we knew it was going to take a little bit of time to get rhythm and timing and get his legs under him. It seems to be coming along - great back-to-back performances by him have given us a big lift." Center JaVale McGee controlled the interior and recorded season bests of 18 points, 17 rebounds and three blocked shots.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Lakers went 3-1 against the Kings last season.

2. Los Angeles backup SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (ankle) was injured against the Warriors and will be re-evaluated.

3. Sacramento reserve F Trevor Ariza (groin) is questionable after leaving the contest against Portland.

PREDICTION: Lakers 114, Kings 108