This Lakers vs Warriors preview starts with good news. Walker Kessler was a full participant in practice Sunday for the first time since the first two days of training camp, according to ESPN. The Los Angeles Lakers (2-1) face the Golden State Warriors (2-2) on Tuesday, October 13, at 7 p.m. PT at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, on NBA TV. JJ Redick still will not say whether his new center will play.
On Saturday, Redick said he was “not committed” to Kessler playing after the center hit his finger on a backboard during a drill. Our Walker Kessler injury update covered that. Sunday was a step forward.
Lakers vs Warriors Preview: Kessler Is Close
ESPN and The Sporting Tribune both report that Kessler has been held back by a jammed left pinkie, which he hurt on the backboard while trying to block a shot early in camp. Kessler called the limits “precautionary” and sounded ready. “It feels good,” he said. “Fully went today in practice, felt great.”
He was also honest about how much he wants to get out there. “I think it would be a little different if I played last season, but because I didn’t play last season, I’m like, ‘Ah, I want to play really bad,'” Kessler said, as relayed by Hoops Rumors from ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “I’m ready to play, but I trust the staff and I trust the trainers, the coaches and front office, you know? So yeah, just listening to them right now.”
Redick was careful. “A lot can happen in 48 hours,” he said. “We’ll be smart with it. See how he feels [Monday]. But not willing to commit to him playing Tuesday or not. He’ll get some live play at some point this week.”
Infanity TV was at Sunday’s practice. Here is Kessler in his own words:
Infanity TV also has Redick on Kessler: “Love to Have in a Laker Uniform” from the same session.
Two Starting Spots Are Still Open
Redick has named three starters: Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Kessler. The other two are undecided. “I would say we’ve certainly seen glimpses of the things we like,” Redick said, according to ESPN. “It’s hard because we’ve just been a little disjointed with the guys being banged up, so there’s nothing definitive yet.”
Hoops Rumors lists the wings the Lakers have started so far: Adou Thiero, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, Jake LaRavia and Bronny James, with Kevon Looney and Sandro Mamukelashvili starting at center in Kessler’s place. Reaves said the team is not worried. “I think we have a lot of guys that could start,” he said, according to The Sporting Tribune. “Regardless of who we roll out there, we have high confidence in [them].”
LaRavia is making a case. Per Hoops Rumors, he has hit six of his first 11 three-point attempts and 14 of 22 shots overall this preseason, after shooting a career-low 32.1% from three last season. Redick credited the summer work: “There’s a lot of things that we did this summer, and it was really focusing on three very minor tweaks.”
Injuries: Sexton and Williams
- Walker Kessler (left pinkie): full practice Sunday. A decision on Tuesday is expected after Monday.
- Collin Sexton (right lower leg): “a little bit further behind” Kessler, Redick said Saturday. He has not played in the preseason.
- Ziaire Williams (left foot contusion): has missed the last two games. Redick called it “not a concern.”
- Arthur Kaluma: back as a full participant as of Saturday.
Mamukelashvili, Reaves and the Turnovers
Mamukelashvili had 19 points and four assists in 21 minutes off the bench in Thursday’s 114-110 win over Sacramento, and his teammates trust him with the ball. “He’s got such a high basketball IQ that if he gets the rebound, he should basically play the one,” Reaves said, per Hoops Rumors. “And it doesn’t matter if I’m on the floor, it doesn’t matter if Luka’s on the floor. If he gets it and goes … we trust whatever he has planned.”
The turnovers are still the biggest problem. The Lakers have averaged 23.7 a game in the preseason, fourth most in the league, according to the Los Angeles Times. On Sunday, Reaves put the responsibility on himself and Doncic. His full answer is on Infanity TV: Austin Reaves: “Me and Luka” Main Catalyst for Turnovers.
Scouting the Warriors
Golden State has split four preseason games, according to ESPN. They lost 104-101 to the Clippers in Honolulu, beat the Lakers 124-98 at Chase Center on October 6, lost 123-118 at Portland and beat Sacramento 111-106 on Saturday.
The name to know is Yaxel Lendeborg. ESPN lists him as the Warriors’ leading scorer and rebounder against the Lakers, with 17 points and nine rebounds. Against Sacramento he had 23 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, according to ESPN and RealGM. Stephen Curry played a limited role Saturday, scoring eight points in 14 minutes, according to the San Francisco Chronicle and NBC Sports Bay Area.
Golden State is shorthanded too. ESPN’s injury report lists Jimmy Butler III (knee) as out, with the team hoping to have him back early in 2027. Kristaps Porzingis (undisclosed) is out indefinitely, and Moses Moody is recovering from a ruptured left patellar tendon.
The last meeting is the one the Lakers should remember. Golden State won by 26, and the Lakers were outrebounded 44-35. Our look at the Lakers’ rebounding problem has the numbers from all three games. Looney also discussed the rivalry on Sunday: Kevon Looney on the Warriors.
What to Watch Tuesday
- Kessler’s debut. If he plays, look at how many minutes Redick gives him and how the defensive rebounding changes.
- The last two starters. The lineup Redick starts in Las Vegas may be close to his opening-night choice.
- Ball security. Watch whether the Lakers can get their turnovers well below their preseason average of 23.7.
- A rehearsal. The Lakers open the regular season against the Warriors on October 21 at Crypto.com Arena, and their preseason ends Friday, October 16, at home against the Denver Nuggets.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Kessler, Sexton or Williams plays Tuesday.
- Who fills the last two starting spots.
- Curry’s minutes in Las Vegas.
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