The Lakers are down to their absolute last preseason game, and it’s happening tonight against the Denver Nuggets. We’re talking real deal dress rehearsal vibes here, back on their home court at Crypto.com Arena. Tip-off is 7:30 p.m. PT, and you can catch it on ESPN or Spectrum Sportsnet. This one’s the final tune-up before the regular season kicks off, and it’s time to see what this squad is really made of.
Kessler’s Arrival and The Preseason Clues
Honestly, this preseason has given us some serious hints about what’s coming. We’ve seen which lineups click, what kind of firepower the role players bring alongside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, and even how the whole game day experience is shaping up with a new PA announcer and broadcast team. But let’s be real, the one thing we haven’t seen in the last four games? A complete Lakers team on the floor. That all changed a bit on Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors in Vegas. The biggest signing of the offseason, Walker Kessler, finally hit the court. And man, did he make an impression! He got 16 minutes of burn, dropping 11 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Beyond his straight-up sensational defense, seeing him already running plays with Reaves was a huge highlight. Reaves, by the way, had himself a night with 28 points and seven assists. The Lakers might’ve come up short in that one after resting their key guys in the second half, but it was still probably their most entertaining preseason game yet.
The Starting Five Puzzle and Coach Redick’s Plan
So, the big question heading into tonight’s “dress rehearsal” against the Nuggets is, will we finally see the fun continue? Everyone’s hoping for at least a few minutes of Dončić, Kessler, and Reaves together on the court. If those three actually suit up, it’s gonna be super interesting to see who snags those last two slots in the starting five. Plus, everyone’s watching head coach JJ Redick’s substitution patterns. Quentin Grimes was asked about who the other two starters would be, and he just shot back, “I don’t know. I guess you’re going to find out next Wednesday!” He also said that whole process of finding the starters has created some serious “healthy competition” in camp. Even though it’s preseason, you know Redick has a game plan for Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets. This is the Nuggets’ final preseason game too, so expect them to treat it like a serious run-through. Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon played minimal minutes last time out, so don’t be shocked if they do the same tonight.
These two are projected playoff teams in the Western Conference, so it’s always great to see how they match up, even in a preseason clash. Fun fact: the Lakers have won four of their last six games against the Nuggets since Dončić landed in Los Angeles. Tonight, they’re facing a reenergized Nuggets team, and it’s the last chance to iron out the wrinkles before the real thing starts. What will Redick show us? Who rounds out that starting five? Get ready, because the regular season is right around the corner.
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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