After losing their 2025-26 regular-season opener 119-109 to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Lakers won their first game of the new season on Friday by downing the Minnesota Timberwolves, 128-110, on Friday. Their offense was sizzling, as they made 59.2% of their field-goal attempts and went 12-of-29 from 3-point range while holding Minnesota to 42.1% field-goal shooting in the second half when they took control.
They will head out on the road to face the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. The Kings will likely miss the playoffs this season, but they do have a decent amount of talent, as they have dangerous players such as Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis.
The Lakers could be short-handed for this contest, however. Luka Doncic, who has been phenomenal to start the season, is listed as questionable with a left finger sprain. So is center Jaxson Hayes, who didn’t play on Friday.
Doncic suffered that finger sprain early in Friday’s game, but he continued to play, and he hung 49 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists on the Timberwolves.
Containing Sabonis may be the biggest key to winning Sunday’s game, and doing so will be more difficult if Hayes cannot play again.