NBA Preseason: Warriors vs Lakers Recap
This was the Golden State Warriors’ first preseason game and the Los Angeles Lakers’ second. The Lakers were missing six players: Doncic, LeBron James, Reeves, Smart, Thybulle, and Kleber. The Warriors’ starters played, but only for the first half.
Starters:
Lakers: Vincent, LaRavia, Vanderbilt, Hachimura, Ayton
Warriors: Curry, Bojemski, Moody, Butler, Draymond Green
Veteran Al Horford came off the bench today but is expected to start once the regular season begins. Melton is still recovering and did not play, along with Seth Curry.
Ayton struggled in the previous game (1 point on 0/2 shooting) and Bronny also had a cold night (1/12, 8 points from free throws). Both needed to find their rhythm. Ayton opened the first quarter with 3/6 shooting for 7 points, showing signs of recovery. Horford immediately made an impact with a quick assist to Curry for a 2+1. Curry got hot, scoring 11 points on 4/5 shooting in the quarter, helping the Warriors build a double-digit lead.
Vincent stepped up to help the Lakers close the gap, and after the first quarter, the Warriors led just 32-31. Vincent scored 10 points and added 4 assists, going 3/2 from the field and 5/5 from the line. At the start of the second quarter, the Warriors’ starters stayed on the floor, but Vincent scored 6 straight points to give the Lakers the lead. There was a small scuffle between Draymond Green and Vanderbilt, but no foul was called.
Offensively, Ayton was a bit sloppy, but defensively he showed his presence against the Warriors’ small-ball lineup, contesting multiple layups from Draymond and Butler. Coach Kerr subbed in Horford and Poole to add interior height. Knect, who struggled in the previous game (2/10), regained some rhythm in the first half, allowing the Lakers to maintain a narrow lead for much of the quarter.
In the final minute of the first half, Horford and Moody each hit three-pointers, putting the Warriors back in front. At halftime, Golden State led 62-55. Horford had 3 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks in limited minutes, finishing with a +13 plus-minus, second-highest on the team. Curry had 14 points and 2 assists, Moody 13 points, and Butler 9 points with 4 boards. For the Lakers, Vincent scored 16 points with 4 assists, and Ayton added 7 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
In the third quarter, the Warriors’ bench went on a 12-2 run, quickly extending the lead to over 15 points. The Lakers’ defense loosened, and Golden State hit six three-pointers in the half. Both teams rotated to full bench lineups. Bronny became a focal point, but his performance was disappointing: 1/4 shooting with 3 points and 4 turnovers through three quarters.
After three quarters, the Warriors led 102-80, with Moody scoring 19 points and Kuminga adding 5 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. In the fourth quarter, both rested. Preseason games are used to evaluate lineups, and players on two-way or training camp contracts also get minutes.
Poole missed several opportunities in the fourth, leading Kerr to sub him out. Bronny had a highlight with a one-handed putback dunk, earning a cheer from LeBron. With two minutes left, the Lakers cut the deficit to single digits.
The game ended with the Warriors winning 111-103, securing their first preseason victory, while the Lakers suffered their second straight loss. Golden State shot 17/43 from three (39.5%).
Horford’s seamless integration with the team was the highlight for the Warriors and perhaps the most satisfying part of the night.
