The Los Angeles Lakers continue to focus on player health and readiness as their preseason wraps up ahead of the Oct. 21 regular season opener against the Golden State Warriors. Walker Kessler, signed in free agency, might debut Tuesday after recovering from an injury, while Collin Sexton and Ziaire Williams remain questionable due to leg and foot issues respectively. Despite these concerns, the team needs to address ball security and defensive rebounding before the season starts; their 22.3% turnover rate ranks poorly among NBA teams, with turnovers especially high during untested lineup combinations.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-12,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
With about a week until they begin their regular season against the Warriors at Crypto.com Arena on October 21, the Los Angeles Lakers are prioritizing player health and availability during their remaining two preseason games. Walker Kessler, recently signed as a key free-agent acquisition, could make his debut in the game against the Warriors in Las Vegas after recovering from an injury to his left pinky finger. However, Collin Sexton's status is uncertain for both Tuesday’s game and Friday’s finale versus the Denver Nuggets, due to a lower leg injury that has put him slightly behind Kessler in terms of recovery progress. Additionally, Ziaire Williams, who competes for a starting lineup spot, is dealing with a foot contusion following limited play in their first preseason game on October 5. Despite these challenges, the Lakers aim to address several areas before the regular season starts, including improving ball security and player readiness.
Written for “Lakers Preseason Games” on 2026-10-13,
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With about a week until they start their regular season with a matchup against the Warriors on Oct. 21 at Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers’ health and player availability will continue to be the main priority during the final week of the preseason.
asserted
health → start → preseason
Walker Kessler, the franchise’s marquee free-agency acquisition, could make his preseason debut against the Warriors on Tuesday in Las Vegas after sitting out of the first three games.
uncertain
Kessler → make → games
The 7-foot-2 center made his return to live play in practice on Sunday after dealing with an injury to his left pinky finger.
asserted
center → make → finger
Collin Sexton’s status is uncertain for Tuesday against the Warriors and Friday’s preseason finale vs. the Nuggets in Los Angeles, with coach JJ Redick saying the 6-foot-3 guard is “probably a little bit further behind” Kessler when it comes to his return as he deals with a lower leg injury.
asserted
he → say → injury
And Ziaire Williams, the 6-foot-10 forward who’s in contention for a spot in the starting lineup, is dealing with a foot contusion after having only played in the Lakers’ preseason-opening win over the Kings on Oct. 5.
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who → ’ → Oct.
But regardless of who is available for their final two preseason games, the Lakers have plenty to clean up before the games start to count in the standings.
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games → have → standings
Here are non-injury/player availability factors The California Post is keeping an eye on in the last two exhibitions
Ball security
Preseason statistics come with an obvious caveat: It’s just the preseason.
Many teams, like the Lakers, haven’t been able to use all of their rotation players in every game.
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been → keep → game
And the rotation players who have suited up aren’t playing full games at this point, either playing just the first half or getting minutes in the third quarter before sitting out the entire fourth quarter, which complicates statistical takeaways.
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which → suit → takeaways
Most teams have yet to crack double-digit practices, and haven’t come close to installing all of their offensive sets or defensive game plans.
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teams → have → sets
But one thing is clear from the Lakers’ first three preseason games: They need to take better care of the basketball.
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They → need → basketball
The Lakers’ 22.3% turnover rate entering Monday ranked No. 28 among all teams during the preseason.
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rate → enter → preseason
But Jaden Hardy (3 turnovers per game), Quentin Grimes (3), Bronny James (2.7), Dalton Knecht (2) and Sandro Mamukelashvili (2) have also coughed the ball up too much, especially when factoring most players aren’t playing as many minutes.
asserted
players → cough → minutes
The turnovers have piled up when unfamiliar lineups are on the floor together and aren’t as organized as they’d like to be – a reality coach JJ Redick has acknowledged.
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Redick → pile → floor
The Lakers have been generating the types of shots they want, especially when Doncic and/or Reaves are on the floor.
But they need to help themselves by being more careful with the ball.
asserted
they → generate → ball
The Lakers have gotten a good look at what life without Kessler could look like.
uncertain
life → get → Kessler
The Lakers’ 61.6% defensive rebounding percentage during preseason has ranked No. 27 across the league.
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percentage → rank → league
Kessler patrolling the paint will be a significant boost for the Lakers’ rebounding.
But he can’t be on the floor for every minute of every game during the regular season.
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he → patrol → season
So the last week has provided the Lakers with insight on what they need to do so they can be better on the glass when their starting center isn’t on the floor.
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center → provide → floor
“It’s important to have two of the bigger wings out there for rebounding purposes,” Redick said.
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Redick → ’ → purposes
“That was a concern I think coming into the year – trying to be a good defensive rebounding team.
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I → think → year
What does that look like with Walker not on the court?
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Walker → look → court
In film, it’s pretty apparent that we need to do a better job of boxing out.
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we → ’ → job
“We’ll figure that out.
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We → figure → that
The biggest thing is trying to make sure we have…two bigger wings out there, Luka, Adou [Thiero], whoever that may be, Mamu as a wing with non-Walker minutes.”
uncertain
that → try → minutes
The Aporia
