The Lakers’ preseason continues in Las Vegas with a rematch against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. The purple and gold look to nab their third exhibition victory.
Start time and TV schedule
Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors
Watch: NBA TV, Spectrum Sportsnet
It’s the fourth game of the Lakers’ preseason stint, which means we’re literally nine days away from the team’s season opener, which will also be against Golden State. Tuesday’s game against the Warriors is the perfect teaser.
What’s also fair to hope for is that the Lakers don’t get outplayed and blown out by the Warriors, similar to what happened last week. Hopefully this time around, the key players for both teams suit up and treat this one like a dress rehearsal for the season opener.
After all, Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world and it would be a disservice if both California-based teams don’t put on a show.
For the Lakers, it would be nice to see Luka Dončić look like his usual self, much like he did in their recent win over the Sacramento Kings when he dropped 23 points in just 25 minutes. The same goes for Austin Reaves, who made his preseason debut in that game and understandably looked a little rusty. When these two are rolling, it’s harder to imagine a more entertaining Lakers team.
What’s also been fun to watch is how this squad is gradually coming together. It’s been a pleasant surprise and encouraging development to see their chemistry on the court taking shape, especially considering how much roster turnover the Lakers went through this offseason. The players seem to understand their roles alongside Dončić and Reaves and complement one another well.
Suddenly, it’s becoming clearer why head coach JJ Redick believes this is the first time in his Lakers tenure that the roster “actually fits together.”
That said, there’s still a lot of basketball to be played in order to prove that. For now, it’ll be interesting to see whether the Lakers can continue building on that early chemistry. While they do just that, it’ll be fascinating to see who continues to stand out, just like Sandro Mamukelashvili has in the preseason thus far.
Keep in mind that the Lakers are facing a Warriors team that may not be classified as contenders but still can be competitive. They’re more connected than the Lakers right now given their familiarity with each other and their system. They also have Stephen Curry on their side so appropriate fear is necessary.
As has been the case throughout the preseason, the process matters more than the result. Still, it would be nice if the Lakers could keep the Warriors from gaining any extra confidence ahead of the season opener in nine days. If they don’t get the win, let’s see if they can at least put on a show in Las Vegas on Tuesday.