The preseason is supposed to be about loosening up and sorting through lineups, but the Lakers and Warriors are already dealing with the kind of injury uncertainty that can shape how these games look before tipoff.
For Golden State, the veteran group is expected to see the floor tonight, with one major exception: Kristaps Porzingis. His status is still up in the air after missing training camp, and there’s no clear answer yet on when he’ll be ready to go.
That’s not exactly ideal for a team that brought him back on a two-year, $40 million deal this summer after he played just 23 games last season. The Warriors missed on the top free agents this offseason, so they need every bit of help they can get from their stars, and Porzingis’ absence is a real concern for their frontcourt to open the year.
Even so, there’s still some optimism that he could return in the first few weeks of the season.
The Lakers have their own injury questions, though their situation appears less severe. Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler are both listed as day-to-day, and both are expected to be game-time decisions tonight and likely throughout the preseason as the team keeps a close eye on them.
“Walker Kessler just jammed his finger on a backboard recently in practice,” Slater added. “They said day-to-day, and I saw him in the locker room; he didn’t have a wrap or anything.
He hasn’t even necessarily been ruled out or in tonight against the Warriors. Austin Reaves, same thing.
They’re also calling him day-to-day. He tweaked an ankle in practice.”
Kessler sat out the Kings game yesterday, even though he has already made a strong early impression with the Lakers. The team is clearly being careful with him, and that makes sense given that he’s their main defensive anchor and the player they committed $130 million to. Reaves is in a similar spot after putting together a career year last season, when he averaged 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game while shooting 49.0%.
With the Western Conference loaded again - with the Thunder, Spurs, Nuggets, Timberwolves, and Rockets all part of the picture - both teams know health matters more than ever. That’s why neither side seems eager to push anyone too hard in preseason action. Full availability probably isn’t coming tonight.
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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
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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 🡒]