One Preseason Game Stands Between the Lakers and the Real…

By the Lakers Nightly Desk · Wednesday, October 14

The preseason has one more night left, a measuring game against Denver on Friday, before the calendar turns real. Nine days from now, the same Golden State team that already beat Los Angeles twice this fall returns, this time for games that count toward a record.

Austin Reaves of the Lakers — Austin Reaves. Photo: ReaganHoang10, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Friday First, Real Thing

Denver visits Crypto.com Arena Friday for the Lakers' preseason finale, with four days of rest built into a schedule that has no back-to-back in sight. Los Angeles has played only two games in the last week, a lighter workload than Golden State is carrying into the rematch nine days out. The second game of the week, Oct. 21 against the Warriors, carries the stakes the first one lacks: it opens the regular season.

A Score Still to Settle

Golden State has already beaten Los Angeles twice this preseason, 124-98 on the road and 101-89 at home Tuesday, with Stephen Curry and Brandin Podziemski leading both nights. Jimmy Butler III has missed both games with a knee injury. Moses Moody is also out, a left knee injury of his own. Steve Kerr's team finished 37-45 last season but still owns the better record between these two clubs this fall, and it returns to Crypto.com Arena Oct. 21 on three games in its last seven days to the Lakers' two — this time with a regular-season record on the line.

Who's Not Ready Yet

Ziaire Williams (foot/leg), Adou Thiero, Cameron Carr and Collin Sexton (lower leg) are all unavailable, each targeting Friday's game against Denver as a return date. Arthur Kaluma and Dalton Knecht were cleared Tuesday, widening Redick's options on the wing before the Warriors rematch. Walker Kessler, cleared the same day, just logged his first minutes of the fall — 11 points, 9 rebounds and a plus-15 in 16 minutes — a look at what the frontcourt could be once the games start counting toward the standings.

When do the Lakers play next?

Denver visits Friday to close the preseason, and the Warriors return Oct. 21 to open the regular season.

Why does the Oct. 21 game against the Warriors matter so much?

It's the regular-season opener, and a chance to answer the two preseason losses Golden State already handed Los Angeles this fall.

By the Lakers Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.