Malik Monk, LeBron James lead the Lakers in front of the Kings..

The words - "three-pointer, buddy heel" - were heard seven times on the arena's public address system, each time met with loud groans from the crowd.

It wasn't so much that the Lakers were letting one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA heat up—fans have seen this defense too many times ineffective in 39 games in the season. No, it was an inescapable reminder that those three points could have belonged to the Lakers.

And instead, cheering for something that's super easy to digest — a wing shooter hitting a wing shot — fans were left grumbling as Russell Westbrook and the Lakers struggled to understand why. Who are they one missed perimeter shot at a time.

The Lakers, however, can overcome those nighttime issues thanks to LeBron James, who once again dazzled, and the shooter team this offseason, took down Malik Monk.

James scored 31, Monk finished with 24 and Westbrook with 19, helping to trigger some of the team's biggest defensive stops with a 122-114 win against the Kings.

This is the Lakers' third consecutive win and their fourth win in the last five matches.

Lakers forward LeBron James attempts a dunk against the Sacramento Kings.

Lakers forward LeBron James attempted a dunk against the Sacramento Kings at the Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday. (Jason Armand / Los Angeles Times)

Just before the Lakers' Westbrook was landed in a trade to the Washington Wizards that cost them Kyle Kuzma, Kentavius ​​Caldwell-Pope, Montreal Harrell and a first-round pick, the team was close to a deal with the Kings for Heald - some The player also believed that the trade was done.

Heald's absence from the Lakers' roster is the kind of decision this team will follow throughout the year - a tempting alternative to the growing pains the Lakers are still exploring with Westbrook and James on the court together.

Even Kings members grumbled about the Lakers' decision in the pre-game, wondering how they would walk away from an apparently fit that still looks like a high-stakes gamble. .

After Sunday's game, when he matched his nine missed shots with nine turnovers, Westbrook defended the mistake, saying it did not decide whether he played a good game.

“My game is not based on shots or if I turn the ball. Like, I miss some shots, it's part of the game. I am allowed to miss the shot. I can do it. Like any other player, I can do the same. I can even turn the ball. I can do it. It's all a part of the game," Westbrook said on Monday. "But when you watch a basketball game and find out that getting the right play, boxing out, rebounding, whatever it may be, making the right play, reading right, it's all about being a basketball player."