DeMar DeRozan highlights the Lakers’ “crazy” free throw advantage

On Sunday night, Sacramento Kings they had a golden opportunity to continue after winning their first game of the new campaign on Friday against the Utah Jazz. They faced a Los Angeles Lakers team that was still without Luka Doncic and LeBron James, and they were at home. alas, Austin Reeves scored 51 points in a crazy explosion of points as the Lakers outscored the Kings in the process, 127-120.

Reaves is sure to draw most of the plaudits for the way he led the Lakers to victory, looking like a superstar-level player all night Sunday. But Kings fans wouldn’t want to let LA’s free-throw advantage go unnoticed. They made 46 free throws compared to Sacramento’s 18, and it was always going to be difficult for the Kings to overcome that kind of disparity at the charity stripe.

Even the Kings star DeMar DeRozan I couldn’t believe how much Lakers free throws.

“46 free throws to our 18? We had to pray for most of them. It’s exhausting, especially when we go out there and play hard and try to compete. It felt like we were getting called for fouls, but on the other hand, when we try to be aggressive, none of that goes our way. It’s kind of draining at times,” Sega DeRozaner said in his post for KRA New.

“46 free throws is crazy. It’s crazy.”

DeMar DeRozan talks about the Kings dropping tonight’s contest to the Lakers and says it came down to a 46-18 free throw margin.

“46 free throws is crazy.” pic.tvitter.com/ivPAUJKccKs

— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) October 27, 2025

Reaves made a living at the foul line on Sunday night, as he scored 21 of his 51 points from the charity stripe (on 22 attempts). The Lakers point guard has an exceptional whistle, and he made the Kings pay for some of their misguided defensive aggression.

Regardless, it has long been a trend in the NBA for the Lakers to have a built-in advantage at the foul line. That’s the advantage of having someone like James or Doncic on the roster. But the Kings learned the hard way that even Reaves can have a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-esque night on the foul line and make them pay.

The Kings defense needs a lot of work

Suffice to say, the Kings defense has a lot of room for improvement. Their opponents have attempted more free throws than them in each of their first three games, and they’ve tended to be handy on that end of the floor.

If nothing else, someone like Keon Ellis, who is one of the best defenders in the NBA, has to be getting more minutes for the Kings. But Sacramento has a logjam in the backcourt, and head coach Doug Christie doesn’t seem to have much faith in Ellis. But for the sake of their defense, he must.