The Lakers didn’t waste any time making noise in their preseason opener Monday night, rolling past the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center and looking sharp on both ends while doing it.
With the roster around Luka Doncic undergoing major changes, Los Angeles still came out ready for its five-game exhibition slate. The defense set the tone, and the shot-making followed, with the Lakers stretching the floor and keeping Sacramento under pressure throughout the night.
A lot of the attention naturally went to the defensive work of Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams, who were disruptive from the jump. But rookie Cameron Carr made sure he had his own spotlight in the second half, and he used it to make a real case that he can contribute sooner rather than later in the 2026-27 NBA season.
Carr had already started turning heads during Summer League as part of a fun pairing with Adou Thiero, and he kept that momentum going in his preseason debut. Coming off the bench, he scored 19 points in 23 minutes, per Spectrum SportsNet, and looked comfortable attacking right away.
“I was definitely nervous, but I mean, it's basketball; I enjoy having fun, so I got to go out there and have another opportunity to play basketball, and now at the highest level, so it's fun, get to compete with my guys.”Cameron Carr (19 PTS (7-13 FG), 3 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL, 23… pic.twitter.com/LpyLXlinwz
Even with those nerves, Carr played with confidence. He didn’t shy away from shots, didn’t look hesitant making decisions, and fit in smoothly with his new teammates. He also chipped in on the defensive end, finishing with two steals to go with his 19 points, three rebounds and two assists.
Carr was the Lakers’ second-leading scorer behind Doncic, who finished with 21 points, and after the game he made it clear that his focus is on getting sharper defensively.
That’s the part of his game the Lakers will keep watching. Carr has the length, athleticism, energy and edge to bother opponents, and he knows there’s still work to do. If he keeps scoring efficiently off the bench while showing real commitment on defense, he could win over JJ Redick quickly and carve out a meaningful role on this rebuilt roster.
There are still four preseason games left, and Carr is one of the names Redick will be watching closely before the regular season begins on Oct. 21.
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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 🡒]