Walker Kessler made his Los Angeles Lakers preseason debut, but Luka Doncic sat out as the Golden State Warriors came from 13 points down at half-time to beat the Lakers 101-89 in Las Vegas on Tuesday night (US time).
Doncic was rested for the game at T-Mobile Arena. “He’s not injured, just getting the night off,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The Lakers led 63-50 at the main break but scored only 13 points in each of the third and fourth quarters, as the Warriors outscored them 51-26 after half-time, according to the ESPN box score.
Austin Reaves led all scorers with 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting, including four of seven from three-point range, plus seven assists and four rebounds in 25 minutes. With more of the ball in his hands while Doncic rested, he also turned it over seven times.
Kessler makes his mark
Kessler, the Lakers’ biggest acquisition of the off-season, started at centre and finished with 11 points on four-of-six shooting, nine rebounds, a block and a steal in 16 minutes. His plus-15 was the best of any Lakers player.
Read more: Walker Kessler Nears Lakers Preseason Debut After Full Practice
His first points came on a cut to the basket from a Reaves pass, and he later blocked Warriors centre Charles Bassey from behind. The Los Angeles Times noted the 7-foot-2 big man was also tested on the perimeter when Golden State went small and he was left guarding the 6-foot-2 Gary Payton II.
Warriors depth takes over
Brandin Podziemski and Yaxel Lendeborg scored 17 points each for the Warriors, while Stephen Curry had 11 points in 23 minutes, hitting three of seven from long range. Bassey added eight points, 12 rebounds and three blocks, and De’Anthony Melton had six steals.
Read more: Brandin Podziemski Agrees Five-Year, $110m Warriors Extension
For the Lakers, Bronny James was held scoreless in 11 minutes, and Dalton Knecht missed both his shots in six minutes. Knecht is widely expected in US reports to be the player cut as the Lakers trim to 15 standard contracts, Sporting News reported, though the club has not announced a decision.
Injuries and what’s next
Redick said rookie Cameron Carr, guard Collin Sexton (lower leg) and forwards Ziaire Williams (right foot contusion) and Adou Thiero (undisclosed) “are still day to day” with their injuries.
The loss was the Lakers’ second to the Warriors this preseason, with their other two games being wins over the Sacramento Kings. They finish the preseason against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena on Friday (US time), then open the regular season at home to the Warriors on 21 October (US time).
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