The test was evident when the Lakers received their schedule for the 2024-25 season.

They made a trip to Sacramento to face the Kings twice, two games against a team whose pace and physicality were the difference in their perennial dominance over the Lakers.

If the Lakers somehow managed to beat the Kings in their first meeting at the Golden 1 Center, they would have to try again a day and a half later.

In the first few months of the schedule, the Lakers had seemingly exorcised their Kings’ demons. They beat them in the first week of the season, quieting the noise about Domantas Sabonis’ dominance over Anthony Davis. On Thursday, in their first game against the Kings in Sacramento, Davis was great and Lakers coach JJ Redick called it his “favorite win” of the season.

Read more: LeBron James sets another NBA record with the Lakers’ victory over the Kings

To do it again? This would require sustained attention, sustained effort and sustained implementation. As coach Doc Rivers always told Redick’s Clippers teams, the Lakers had to stay on the ropes in the tug-of-war.

Towards the end of the game there wasn’t much left to hold on to. But there was enough.

Rui Hachimura’s offensive rebound after Davis missed two free throws with 12.1 seconds left prevented the Kings from tying the score or taking the lead, and the Lakers held on for a tough 103-99 win.

“It’s a small thing. But just having the attitude and effort to try and get an offensive rebound on a free throw…. just a big game,” Redick said.

James scored 32 points in a game after setting the NBA’s minutes record for regular season games by harassing the Kings on offense and picking up four steals on defense. D’Angelo Russell scored 20 off the bench and Davis finished the night with 15 rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots.

“I just wanted to take advantage of the opportunity,” James said. “We had the opportunity to get two quality wins away from home in a hostile environment against a really good team who we haven’t had much success with in recent years. And I just tried to take advantage of the opportunity and energize my teammates.”

The Lakers led by as many as 10 points late in the fourth quarter before the game began to slip out of their hands. Lack of coverage on defense, poor offensive possessions and missed free throws put the Kings within two points when the Lakers had a chance to tie the game. First there was a close away call. Then former Lakers forward Malik Monk fouled Davis on the inbounds late in the shot clock, saving possession for the Lakers.

But Davis, as he did earlier this season in a loss to Orlando, missed crucial free throws. Hachimura, whom Redick praised for his improved attention to detail, returned the Lakers’ second miss. Austin Reaves was fouled, sank both free throws and the Lakers got another stop to win.

“I don’t want to say I’m frustrated because I liked both of them. Both in and out,” Davis said of his missed free throws. “I don’t think I could have shot it any other way. In the past I felt like I completely missed either left short, right or long, but both in and out. But I know I definitely appreciate Rui with the tip.

“And my wife even called me and said, ‘Rui saved you.’ So… that made me feel worse. “Whose side are you on?” But at the end of the day, Rui came out on top, AR knocked down two opponents and we were able to get a victory.”

The Kings entered the two-game series with the Lakers having the fifth-most efficient offense in the NBA. After eight quarters against the Lakers, the Kings could only score 199 points.

Coming into December, the Lakers have the seventh-best defense in the NBA and no team has been harder to score in the last four games.

“Everything we do defensively, we’re physical, we talk, we communicate, we cover for each other,” Davis said. “We are recovering. Our reporting is straight to the point. We just fly around and do everything, be brave and play desperate defensively.”

The Lakers, who have won three straight, host Detroit on Monday in Los Angeles.

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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.