The Lakers got a blunt reality check in their 124-98 preseason loss to the Warriors, and JJ Redick didn’t waste time dressing it up.
Los Angeles was already short-handed without Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler, but Redick made clear after the game that the absences were not the issue. The problem was the way his team came out, especially after a 24-point win over the Kings just one day earlier.
“The way we started that game was insane. I’ll just say that it was insane.
I don’t know the reasons why, because this group has been awesome for the two months I’ve been around them. So it’s just unacceptable; the first half was unacceptable,” JJ Redick said.
Redick pointed to a better stretch after halftime, when the Lakers’ defensive edge returned.
“I thought that group that started the second half- we got back to our physicality defensively, and Adou and Jake, particularly, were really good in that stretch,” he further added.
He then drew a line between being undermanned and being off standard.
“We’ve had a handful of these games where you’re missing star players and a lot of your depth. I still expect to win, and I still expect us to play to our standards.
That first half did not meet my expectations, and I let them know that. You can still hold them accountable.
And I do think they respond,” Redick concluded.
Without a primary playmaker on the floor, the Lakers’ offense never found a rhythm and spent much of the night looking flat and improvised. That stood out even more because the Warriors, though also missing pieces, still had Stephen Curry and Draymond Green available.
Golden State got a strong night from Yaxel Lendeborg, who led all scorers with 17 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and one block. He shot 7-for-11 from the field and 2-for-3 from three.
For Los Angeles, Sandro Mamukelashvili finished as the leading scorer with 15 points, two rebounds, and two assists while going 6-for-10 from the field and 3-for-4 from deep.
The Lakers now run back the same stretch of preseason opponents, meeting the Kings on October 8, the Warriors again on October 13, and then the Nuggets in Denver on October 16. They have less than 48 hours before seeing Sacramento again, and Redick is looking for a much sharper showing. With the regular season a little over two weeks away, the message is clear: the Lakers still have to hold their standard, even when the stars sit.
In Other News...
Warriors Got An Early Look At A Lakers Question That Still Matters
Ahead of the Lakers second preseason game against the Warriors, JJ Redick made it clear this was going to be more of a look-and-learn night than a full dress rehearsal. Nearly half the roster sat, including several key names, and the result was a one-sided loss that mattered less on the scoreboard than in the small roster battles still unfolding beneath it.
Jarred Vanderbilt once again flashed the defensive value that has long made him an interesting piece in Los Angeles, even as his offense stayed limited. On the other end, Jaden Hardy showed some scoring ability but also gave the ball away too often, which is the kind of preseason tradeoff that can linger into the regular season. With roster spots still unsettled, these kinds of performances are part of the evaluation the Lakers will keep weighing as they move closer to opening night. [Read more 🡒]
Austin Reaves Is Defining His Voice For This New-Look Lakers Team
Austin Reaves is stepping into a different kind of spotlight this fall, with the Lakers asking him to help guide a roster that now has to move forward without LeBron James. Coming off a strong season, Reaves is no longer just one of the reliable pieces around the stars, he is becoming one of the voices the team will lean on as it tries to establish a new identity.
Reaves has been clear about the kind of leadership he prefers, and it is not built around public callouts or dramatic scenes. He sees it as something more personal, rooted in one-on-one conversations and calm accountability, a style that fits his approach and the way he connects with teammates. For the Lakers, the question is not just whether he can produce, but whether that quieter voice can help set the tone for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Stephen Curry Kept This Lakers Loss From Feeling Like Just Preseason
The preseason opener in San Francisco carried more than the usual September exhibition feel, with the Warriors turning it into Nellie Night in honor of the late Don Nelson. Golden State wore yellow Nellie patches on its jerseys, a nod to the coach who helped shape the franchise and, for Stephen Curry, the rookie-season veteran whose influence still lingers as one of the defining figures in his early NBA path.
Curry helped make sure the night had some edge for the Lakers, too. He played 14 minutes and scored 16 points as Golden State rolled to a 124-98 win, giving the game a little more weight than a typical tune-up. The teams will meet again in the regular season on October 21, when the stakes will be real and the Lakers will get their first chance to respond. [Read more 🡒]