The Los Angeles Lakers used their final preseason game as a dress rehearsal for the regular season, starting Gabe Vincent in place of the injured LeBron James. Despite a narrow 117-116 loss to the Sacramento Kings, the game provided a preview of the team’s likely opening night lineup and highlighted both promising performances and areas needing improvement.
In Friday’s matchup, Coach JJ Redick deployed Vincent alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton, and Rui Hachimura, signaling the probable starters for Tuesday’s season opener against the Golden State Warriors. Vincent, who has been a standout in training camp, capped his strong preseason with 14 points on efficient 5-for-6 shooting, including 4-for-5 from three-point range. His recent outbursts, such as scoring 18 points in the first four minutes against the Dallas Mavericks, justified his selection and offered a glimpse of his potential impact.
LeBron James is expected to miss the opener and possibly several weeks due to a sciatic nerve issue affecting his right side, with sources indicating a return around mid-November. This absence has forced the Lakers to adapt quickly, with Redick emphasizing that the starting lineup is not set in stone and will evolve based on injuries and matchups throughout the season. The coach highlighted Vincent’s shooting, ball-handling, and defensive toughness as key attributes that fit well with the core players.
Offensively, the Lakers showed flashes of cohesion, recording 28 assists with only nine turnovers, and Doncic led the way with 31 points and nine assists in 33 minutes. However, the team struggled with execution on lob passes to Ayton and defensive consistency, allowing the Kings to shoot 54.7% from the field and 44.8% from three-point range. Doncic acknowledged the need for improved physicality, noting that practices had been more intense than the game performance.
Defensive concerns were a focal point, as the Lakers surrendered 59 points in the second half and lacked the necessary resistance against a short-handed Kings squad. Marcus Smart, coming off the bench, provided a spark with 14 points and four steals, vowing to set a defensive tone moving forward. His presence is expected to bolster the team’s effort on that end of the court.
Injury updates added to the preseason finale’s drama, as center Jaxson Hayes exited with a right wrist contusion after a lob dunk in the first quarter. X-rays were negative, but his status will be reassessed after Sunday’s practice, adding uncertainty to the frontcourt depth. The Lakers finished the preseason with a 1-5 record, but players and coaches focused on the progress made rather than the wins and losses.
With two practices scheduled before the opener, the team aims to address defensive lapses and offensive timing, particularly in pick-and-roll situations involving Doncic and Ayton. Redick expressed confidence in the group’s readiness, pointing to positive steps in ball movement and execution despite the loss. The experience against the Kings served as a crucial learning opportunity ahead of the regular season’s intensity.
As the Lakers prepare to host the Warriors, the spotlight will be on how they perform without James and whether Vincent and others can step up consistently. The preseason finale, while imperfect, set the stage for a season of adjustment and growth, with the team eager to prove its competitiveness in the Western Conference.