Los Angeles Lakers fans raised concerns after Walker Kessler and Austin Reaves missed their second straight preseason game on Tuesday. It looked like the Lakers were rotating their squad after playing the Sacramento Kings in the first game of a back-to-back.
Luka Doncic played in that game, while Reaves, Kessler and Collin Sexton sat. Many assumed the trio would suit up against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, but Redick said they were ruled out before the game.
On Monday, Redick said Kessler had a finger injury, and Reaves tweaked his ankle. Redick said both were “fine” and day-to-day. He didn’t give an injury update on Sexton.
After Kessler and Reaves missed Tuesday’s game, Lakers fans feared their injuries could be more concerning than what Redick suggested.
Here’s what one fan said:
“If Kessler can’t play an 8-minute stint with Reaves tonight, then both have legitimate injuries, and JJ needs to be more transparent about what’s going on. It’s absurd to sit them the first two preseason games if they’re healthy. Seems they’re not. And that’s not even counting Sexton not fully practicing all of training camp.”
More reactions followed.
Lakers coach JJ Redick may want to see his team at full strength on Thursday
The Lakers have a surprisingly taxing preseason schedule. After back-to-back away games against Sacramento and Golden State, the team returns home Thursday to host the Kings. With short turnarounds, JJ Redick may have decided to rest Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler for one more game and see the key rotation players in action next time.
The Lakers also held out Luka Doncic, Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams, who played Monday against the Kings. Only two players predicted to get key rotation minutes this season played both preseason games: Sandro Mamukelashvili and Quentin Grimes.
The Lakers lost 124-98 to the Warriors. Mamukelashvili led with 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting. Jaden Hardy was an underrated performer with 13 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Cole Swider showed a late burst with nine points on three 3-pointers.
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