Lakers vs Kings Preview: NBA Preseason Records, Form and Head-to-Head
Lakers vs Kings (LAL vs SAC) is a 2026-27 NBA preseason game, tipping off Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 10:30 PM. This preview covers both teams’ regular-season records and home/road splits from last season, their meetings in 2025-26, and what is actually worth watching at this stage of the calendar. All data is current as of 2026-10-05 and comes from official box scores via balldontlie and TheSportsDB.
The regular season has not yet started, leaving both teams at zero games for 2026-27. All records and per-game figures below are from the 2025-26 regular season. Given the offseason roster changes, these figures provide background context and should not be treated as a direct measure of either team’s current strength.
目錄
Lakers vs Kings game information
| Tip-off (ET) | Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 10:30 PM |
| Tip-off (UTC) | Friday, October 9, 2026 at 02:30 |
| Competition | 2026-27 NBA preseason |
| Away | Los Angeles Lakers (LAL) |
| Home | Sacramento Kings (SAC) |
Preseason rotations and minutes are determined entirely by the coaching staff, with starters often limited to a half or held out altogether. Home-court advantage has little analytical value at this stage and is therefore excluded from this preview.
Los Angeles Lakers: 2025-26 regular season in review
The Lakers played 82 games in the 2025-26 regular season and finished 53-29, scoring 116.3 points per game and allowing 114.6, for a net of 1.8. Combined scoring in their games averaged 230.9 points, which is the starting point for any totals read.
| 2025-26 regular season | Games | Record | PPG | Opp PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full season | 82 | 53-29 | 116.3 | 114.6 |
| Home | 41 | 28-13 | 118.0 | 114.0 |
| Road | 41 | 25-16 | 114.7 | 115.2 |
| Final 10 games | 10 | 7-3 | 116.2 | 112.2 |
They recorded 28-13 at home and 25-16 on the road, averaging 3.3 more points per game at home. Lakers is the visiting team in this matchup. They reached the playoffs and finished 4-6 across 10 games, averaging 102.2 points and allowing 107.1. The sample is limited and the figures are listed here as fact.
Sacramento Kings: 2025-26 regular season in review
The Kings played 82 games in the 2025-26 regular season and finished 22-60, scoring 111.0 points per game and allowing 121.0, for a net of -10.0. Combined scoring in their games averaged 232.0 points, which is the starting point for any totals read.
| 2025-26 regular season | Games | Record | PPG | Opp PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full season | 82 | 22-60 | 111.0 | 121.0 |
| Home | 41 | 15-26 | 112.6 | 119.8 |
| Road | 41 | 7-34 | 109.4 | 122.2 |
| Final 10 games | 10 | 3-7 | 110.7 | 121.0 |
They recorded 15-26 at home and 7-34 on the road, averaging 3.2 more points per game at home. Kings is the home team in this matchup. They did not qualify for the playoffs last season.
Lakers vs Kings head-to-head last season
The two teams met 4 times in the 2025-26 regular season: Lakers won 3 and Kings won 1.
| Date | Home | Away | Score (home-away) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-01 | Lakers | Kings | 128-104 | Lakers |
| 2026-01-12 | Kings | Lakers | 124-112 | Kings |
| 2025-12-28 | Lakers | Kings | 125-101 | Lakers |
| 2025-10-26 | Kings | Lakers | 120-127 | Lakers |
4 games are a limited sample, and both rosters changed in the offseason. This record reflects last season’s matchup results and does not establish that the same pattern will continue this season.
What to watch in this preseason game
- Tempo gap: combined scoring averaged 230.9 points in Lakers games and 232.0 in Kings games last season, a gap of 1.1. Which way this one trends is the first readable signal.
- Fourth quarters: last season Lakers averaged 28.1 points and allowed 26.5 in the fourth; Kings averaged 26.4 and allowed 28.7.
- What preseason is for: assessing how new signings fit, how rookies adapt, and how starters perform under restricted minutes. The scoreline has limited significance; rotation patterns are the primary focus.
- Injuries and starters: this preview does not speculate on player availability or projected lineups. Consult the official NBA injury report before tip-off.
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Frequently asked questions
What time do the Lakers and Kings tip off?
Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 10:30 PM ET.
Is this a regular-season or preseason game?
This is a 2026-27 NBA preseason game. It does not count toward regular-season records, and minutes for key players are decided by the coaching staff.
How did these two teams fare against each other last season?
They met 4 times in the 2025-26 regular season: Lakers won 3, Kings won 1. Scores: 128-104, 124-112, 125-101, 120-127. That is a 4-game sample and both rosters changed over the summer, so treat it as background only.
Can last season’s numbers predict a preseason game?
Only to a limited extent. Last season’s numbers reflect last season’s rosters. After summer trades, signings and draft picks, both teams need to be reassessed, and preseason games are not played at full intensity anyway.
How do I get the Mysports.AI prediction?
Model predictions are not published in these articles. Message Mysports.AI support on Telegram to request free access, which covers that day’s complimentary game and may not include a specific matchup.
Data current as of 2026-10-05, from official box scores via balldontlie and TheSportsDB. Advanced metrics, injury reports and starting lineups are not included. This article is a pre-game data summary and does not constitute betting advice. You must be of legal gambling age in your jurisdiction.