The Los Angeles Lakers secured their first victory of the 2025-26 preseason, defeating the Golden State Warriors 126-116 in a matchup that showcased the depth and renewed offensive promise of the Purple and Gold. While stars like LeBron James and Luka Dončić rested, it was Austin Reaves who stepped up, leading the charge and underlining his importance to the team’s new configuration under Head Coach J.J. Redick.
Austin Reaves Takes Command
Reaves stole the show at Crypto.com Arena, leading the Lakers with an efficient 21 points on just 7-of-10 shooting, including multiple timely three-pointers. His chemistry with new center Deandre Ayton (14 points, 8 rebounds) was immediately apparent, demonstrating the potential for a potent pick-and-roll attack that the Lakers hope will define their offense this season.
The Lakers built a substantial lead in the first half, outscoring the Warriors 33-22 in the second quarter to take a 63-54 lead into the break. Reaves was instrumental in this surge, proving he is ready to shoulder a larger playmaking and scoring burden alongside the team's superstars. Rui Hachimura and rookie Dalton Knecht also provided strong offensive contributions, adding 16 points apiece, further highlighting the Lakers' deeper bench scoring.
Warriors' Bench Depth vs. Lakers' Grit
For the Golden State Warriors, who rested many of their key veterans including Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, the game became a testing ground for their young talent. Guard Brandin Podziemski led the effort for Golden State, finishing with an impressive 23 points and 5 rebounds, showcasing his expanded role as a primary scorer and ball-handler. Jonathan Kuminga added 13 points and 6 assists.
Despite the Warriors briefly seizing momentum in the third quarter with a 39-27 run to take a small lead, the Lakers' reserves, spearheaded by Knecht’s late shooting, regained control in the final frame. The key difference came down to ball security and paint scoring: the Lakers capitalized on 20 Warriors turnovers for 21 points, and although the Warriors dominated the paint overall (64 points), the Lakers' consistent pressure proved decisive late in the game.
The result is less about the loss column and more about the strategic takeaways: the Lakers found crucial scoring depth and pick-and-roll synergy, while the Warriors identified that their bench, despite flashes of brilliance from Podziemski, still needs refining to support their "win-now" veteran core. Both teams move forward with clear areas of focus as the season opener rapidly approaches.
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