Author: Alex Ignacio
Kings home opener Tuesday vs Florida at Crypto.com Arena: Los Angeles is 0-1-1 after Colorado and San Jose, the 60th-anniversary Fan Festival and retro mask giveaway are set, and Kuemper is only projected until Laviolette confirms.
Clippers beat Warriors 104-101 in Honolulu: Rui Hachimura scores 21 in 15 minutes, Darius Garland goes 4-of-4, Keaton Wagler hits the go-ahead jumper, Isaiah Jackson starts, and Max Strus leaves with a right foot injury to be tested in Los Angeles.
Game day for the Lakers preseason opener at Sacramento: JJ Redick still has not named who plays, Luka Doncic’s minutes remain TBD after his longest layoff, the back-to-back shapes the rotation, and the first live look at open wing spots, Kessler’s range and Collin Sexton arrives at 7 p.m. PT.
Kings lose to Sharks 5-4 in overtime at SAP Center: Igor Chernyshov scores twice including the 3:18 OT winner, the Kings go 2-for-3 on the power play with goals from Kempe and Byfield, Haula and Panarin rally them from 4-2 down, Forsberg makes 20 saves, and LA is 0-1-1 before Tuesday’s home opener.
Clippers game day vs the Warriors at 1 p.m. HST / 4 p.m. PT on NBA TV: Kobe Sanders is out with a left hip impingement, Bradley Beal will sit, Isaiah Jackson says he expects to start, Beal opens up about his hip comeback, and Steve Kerr plans first-half-only minutes for Curry, Green and Horford.
Saturday’s Lakers practice report: JJ Redick calls two-way guard Chris Mañon fantastic and says two-way redundancy raises the ceiling, Bronny James embraces a vocal point guard role, Matisse Thybulle leaves starting decisions to the coaches, Walker Kessler works on 3s, and availability for Sacramento is still TBD.
Clippers vs Warriors preseason opener Sunday, 1 p.m. HST / 4 p.m. PT at Stan Sheriff Center on NBA TV. Lue on all 21 players being in the gym from day one, who plays, the Ingram, Beal, Miller and Konan Niederhauser injury list, what Lue wants to see, and Kerr’s lineup with rookie Yaxel Lendeborg.
Kings at Sharks game day: after an extensive video session and a tougher Friday practice, Laviolette targets rush defense against a fast San Jose team. Perry and Gustafsson are options to draw in, Kuemper is projected but unconfirmed, Ceci’s strong start, and the new alternate-captain rotation.
The Lakers preseason opener is Monday at 7 p.m. PT in Sacramento. Where the 16-for-15 roster crunch stands, why Dalton Knecht’s status is still unresolved, the injury and back-to-back watch, the open starting jobs, a Pooh Jeter front-office hire and a scout of the 22-60 Kings.
With one practice before Saturday’s Kings vs Sharks game at SAP Center, Peter Laviolette wants fewer penalties, a tighter penalty kill and better rush coverage. Plus what to keep from Denver, Friday’s lineup questions and a scouting report on a Sharks team fresh off an OT win over Florida.