Sacramento Kings Versus the Los Angeles Lakers Sacramento Scores a Then All Time Low 4 Points on February 4, 1987
The Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers Played a Game Many Sports Fans Won't Remember
On February 4, 1987, the Sacramento Kings of the NBA were involved in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers in which Sacramento only scored a then record low of 4 points in the first quarter! Prior to this, Lakers’ announcer Francis Dayle “Chick” Hearn reported during that game that he had not ever reported a score like this in this sport. Now that I think of it, February 4, 1987 is a date that should stand in infamy for Lakers fans everywhere even though it would be fair to guess that many sports fans don’t remember this game and how the Los Angeles Lakers played solid team defense on their way to an easy win.
Los Angeles Lakers Team Logo
Why Was This Game Between the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings Significant?
This game is significant not only because Sacramento was utterly dominated by a very deep Los Angeles Lakers team that had an all-star team basically. Sacramento Kings had players such as Reggie Theus, Eddie Johnson, and Otis Thorpe but they were no match for a Los Angeles Lakers team that had Earvin “Magic” Johnson, James Worthy, Byron Scott and Kareem Abdul Jabbar who even at his age at this time still proved he could be effective on the basketball court.
Where Did the Sacramento Kings Finish in the Standings in 1987?
The Sacramento Kings would finish second to last in the Midwest Division where they were in at the time finishing with a record of 29-53. Only the San Antonio Spurs had a worse record in that division finishing at 28-54. This game that I’m writing about is a game that happened during that season but it showed just how dominant the Los Angeles Lakers could be at their best.
How Did This Famous Game Turn Out?
At the end of the first quarter, the Los Angeles Lakers would score 40 points and hold the Sacramento Kings to a then record low 4 points in one quarter in a game. All four points for the Sacramento Kings would be scored from the free throw line only! The only points of offense in that first quarter by the Kings were two free throws a piece made by Derek Smith and Reggie Theus. The Sacramento Kings were 0 for 18 from the field in an entire quarter. Eddie Johnson would score the first field goal for Sacramento 21 seconds into the second quarter. These are the kinds of games that any coach would be really disappointed and or upset to witness if they are the opposing team being beaten this badly. The rest of the game differed very little as the Lakers cruised to an easy 128-92 victory. Sacramento never made up any ground the whole game as they were dominated.
My Thoughts About This February 4, 1987 Regular Season Game
Looking back, it is staggering how the Sacramento Kings, a team full of professional basketball players were just utterly dominated. They were not a bunch of high school basketball players, they were professional adults and they got dominated like this. Chick Hearn said at least a few times in the broadcast that in case viewers joined the game late that the Lakers at one point led 29-0!
This Record Tying Low Point Total For a Quarter Would Stand Until 2002
Remarkably, on November 27, 2002, the Denver Nuggets would break this record by scoring only 3 points in a quarter against the San Antonio Spurs. But for the Los Angeles Lakers, this February 1987 game was one of the best in their history.
Perhaps the Most Memorable Quote from Francis Dayle "Chick" Hearn from That Game
"If somebody would say to me, I would bet you anything, any kinds of odds they want to give you that somebody could score 26 unanswered points in the NBA I would lose my house."
© 2019 Ara Vahanian
