The Lakers’ preseason opener against the Kings is already missing some of the names fans were hoping to see.
Just before tipoff Monday night, Los Angeles ruled out four players: Walker Kessler, Austin Reaves, Collin Sexton, and Arthur Kaluma. Lakers insider Mike Trudell reported the status update, noting that Kessler and Reaves are both day-to-day and “fine.”
“JJ Redick said Walker Kessler (hit his finger on the backboard) and Austin Reaves (tweaked his ankle) are both out tonight in the first preseason game at SAC, but both are ‘fine,’ and are day-to-day. Collin Sexton and Arthur Kaluma are both out tonight as well.”
Redick said the team is taking a careful approach with a few players, and that most of the roster will be on a short leash anyway.
“We’re being cautious with a few guys. I think just about everybody is going to get between 10 and 20 minutes tonight. And then the guys that are out tonight may play tomorrow, but for the most part, they’re all day to day.”
That leaves the Lakers with a preseason lineup that’s a little easier to project, even if it’s still not exactly the full picture of what this roster can become. Two starters, a key bench piece, and a young rotation player are all sitting this one out.
According to Lakers insider Jovan Buha, Los Angeles is expected to start Luka Doncic and Quentin Grimes in the backcourt. Doncic’s preseason availability had been a question, but he is set to suit up in the opener.
That pairing gives the Lakers a familiar look in the backcourt, especially since Doncic and Grimes have already spent time together in Dallas. It’s a combination that should bring some structure early while the rest of the rotation gets sorted out.
Up front, the Lakers are projected to go with Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, and Kevon Looney. Rather than loading up on size at power forward, the group leans into wings who can move, defend, and keep the game flowing on the perimeter. Looney, meanwhile, brings the veteran presence and rebounding needed in the middle.
There’s also a chance Redick uses Sandro Mamukelashvili at the 5 behind Looney, giving the staff another look at how the big-man rotation might work. With preseason minutes spread thin and several players unavailable, this game should offer Redick a chance to test different combinations and see what holds up against Sacramento.
In Other News...
Kings Rookie Darius Acuff Jr. Sounds Alarm After Ugly Lakers Loss
The Kings preseason meeting with the Lakers offered an early look at where Sacramento stands as camp moves forward, and rookie Darius Acuff Jr. was one of the few bright spots on a rough night. Acuff scored 19 points while playing with the aggression the Kings need from a young guard, but the game also showed the cost of learning on the fly, with five turnovers and a defense that never found much footing against a Lakers attack led by Luka Doncics 21 points.
For a Kings team still trying to sort out rotations and identity, the loss carried more weight than a typical October box score. Sacramento is heading into its next preseason game with defensive questions still hanging over the roster, and theres a larger layer of uncertainty around the frontcourt as possible changes involving Domantas Sabonis continue to loom. For a rookie trying to carve out space and a team trying to stabilize before the games count, the margin for sloppy play is already looking thin. [Read more 🡒]
Darius Acuff Gave Kings Fans One Reason To Feel Better Fast
The Kings did not get the result they wanted in their first preseason game, falling 127-103 to the Lakers while their shooting and ball security lagged behind. Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine were limited to the first half, leaving plenty of room for the younger players to soak up minutes, and rookie Darius Acuff Jr. was one of the few bright spots on a night when Sacramento needed one.
Acuff finished with 19 points on 47 percent shooting and four assists in 27 minutes, a solid step forward from his Summer League showing and the kind of outing that gives a struggling exhibition roster some immediate hope. Nique Clifford added 23 points and Dylan Cardwell chipped in nine points and 10 rebounds, but Acuffs sharpest work stood out because it suggested the Kings may already have a young guard worth watching closely as preseason rolls on. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Fans Have A New Bench Name To Watch Closely
The Kings got an early preseason reminder that their second unit could have a real weapon in Nique Clifford. In Sacramentos opener against the Lakers, the second-year forward led all scorers with 23 points and backed it up with nine rebounds, looking the part of a player who can tilt a game with energy, physicality and scoring punch.
Cliffords path to a bigger role is starting to look more interesting by the day, especially with the way he attacked the rim and drew 10 free throw attempts. For a team that will need reliable production beyond its starters, that kind of versatility off the bench is exactly the sort of development worth watching as the regular season approaches. [Read more 🡒]