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Story summary
The Los Angeles Lakers' recent trip to Northern California highlighted the unpredictable nature of NBA preseason games. On Monday, the Lakers appeared dominant against a Sacramento Kings team expected to finish near the bottom of the league in 2026-27. However, just one day later, they were decisively beaten by the Golden State Warriors, who are struggling with aging stars like Steph Curry and Draymond Green. These contrasting performances underscore why preseason games shouldn't be used to predict a team's regular-season success due to inconsistent player availability and limited practice time. During their game against the Warriors, key Lakers players such as Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle, and Collin Sexton were absent, further complicating assessments of team strength. With only a few practice sessions before each game, teams are far from their full potential during the preseason.
Written for “Lakers Preseason Performance” on 2026-10-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
The Lakers’ trip to Northern California displayed the duality of preseason basketball.
asserted
trip → display → basketball
Because for as good as Monday night felt, Tuesday night was equally as dreadful.
asserted
night → feel → ?
Within 24 hours, the Lakers went from looking like world-beaters against a Kings team that’s expected to finish the 2026-27 season toward the bottom of the NBA standings to getting run out of the gym by a Warriors team that’s fighting to stay relevant behind aging four-time NBA champions Steph Curry and Draymond Green.
asserted
that → go → champions
The up-and-down nature of the last few days epitomized why making grand conclusions from preseason exhibitions about a team’s full-season outlook is a foolish exercise.
asserted
making → epitomize → outlook
Player availability changes nightly, which was the case for the Lakers when Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle and Collin Sexton sat out against the Warriors.
asserted
Doncic → change → Warriors
Both teams only have a handful of training camp practices before having to play against another opponent and are lucky if they’re able to crack a double-digit number of practices before the regular season starts.
asserted
season → have → practices
But what preseason exhibitions should provide is an insight into what a team has been focusing on since putting together its roster over the summer and honing in on since practices officially began as summer turned to fall.
asserted
summer → provide → fall
And for the Lakers, proof of concept was provided when they played the Kings.
asserted
they → provide → Kings
On Monday, LA at least had a reasonable number of players available who’ll play meaningful minutes when the games count.
asserted
games → have → minutes
Yes, Kessler not playing either game meant the Lakers lacked the rim protection they coveted when they acquired the 7-foot-2 big man from the Jazz.
asserted
they → play → Jazz
And it showed.
asserted
it → show → ?
Reaves and Sexton being sidelined removed the team’s main ball handlers behind Doncic.
asserted
sidelined → sideline → Doncic
But for at least one game against the Kings — and really just the first half when Doncic played — the Lakers showcased a glimpse of the team’s vision.
asserted
Lakers → play → vision
Ninety-four feet of full-court defensive pressure, with Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle, Quentin Grimes, Jake LaRavia and Adou Thiero all taking turns.
asserted
Williams → take → turns
“Especially with Matisse and Ziaire, [the defense at the beginning] of the game [against the Kings], that’s contagious for everybody,” Doncic said.
asserted
Doncic → ’ → everybody
The offense will continue to revolve around Doncic — and Reaves once he’s in the lineup.
asserted
he → continue → lineup
But the how will look different, with Doncic operating off the ball more to start possessions before using his teammates’ screening to come to the ball, which weaponizes his offensive gravity.
asserted
which → look → gravity
“You can look at any game, or any practice, and find good stuff to build on,” coach JJ Redick said.
asserted
Redick → look → stuff
“So, yes, it’s encouraging.”
asserted
it → ’ → ?
An encouraging start to the preseason isn’t the be-all, end-all, but the foundation and expectations are set.
asserted
foundation → end → preseason
And once they’re able to get more of their main players on the court, those expectations will only rise.
asserted
expectations → ’re → court
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