Lakers coach JJ Redick hit everyone with the pregame news for their preseason opener against the Kings: Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler are both officially out. That’s a tough blow for the first game, especially when you’re looking to see how the team gels early on.
Who’s Sidelined and Why We Shouldn’t Panic
Joining Reaves and Kessler on the sidelines for this one are Collin Sexton and Arthur Kaluma. So, what exactly went down? Redick confirmed that Kessler jammed his finger on the backboard, which, ouch, sounds like it could be worse. Reaves, meanwhile, tweaked his ankle. Sexton and Kaluma are both dealing with lower-body ailments. Now, here’s the crucial bit, and the reason we don’t need to hit the panic button just yet: Redick made it clear that none of these are considered serious injuries. He said all four guys are currently day-to-day. That’s a huge relief, right? You never want to see key players hobbled, but “day-to-day” is way better than anything long-term.
The Starting Five and What’s Next
With two projected starters like Reaves and Kessler out, the Lakers’ starting lineup for tonight features Luka Dončić, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, and Kevon Looney. It’s definitely a different look than what we might see down the line, but honestly, this is preseason. We knew going into this opening stretch of games , especially with a back-to-back and three games in four nights , that players were probably going to get some rest. Redick even mentioned during training camp that some guys had modified participation in practice, always stressing those weren’t serious injuries. While we don’t know if these four were among those modified participants, the general vibe is that the team is just being super cautious. For any of you who caught Summer League, not seeing Kaluma tonight is a definite bummer. The kid has a skillset that, on paper, should really complement the team’s stars. The main goal right now, especially for Kessler, is to get him back on the court to build as much chemistry as possible with Luka and Reaves. And obviously, Reaves getting back healthy ASAP is the best-case scenario for everyone. We’ll get a clearer picture of how serious these injuries truly are when the Lakers play again on Tuesday against the Warriors. Fingers crossed we see these guys back on the floor soon, especially with Tuesday’s game on the horizon. Getting that core chemistry going is gonna be everything.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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