Lakers bench helps punch first win of preseason.
The Lakers big man, Anthony Davis, and their rotation players off the bench were big factors in securing their first preseason win, beating the Golden State Warriors 124–121.
The Lakers were without key players LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and Patrick Beverly in tonight’s win due to another precaution to help maintain energy in preparation for the regular season. #SaveEnergy
Anthony Davis showed flashes of the AD we saw in the 2020 playoff bubble, scoring at will at times tonight and showing how elite he can be on defense.
“It felt great to get back on the floor. Preseason is used to get in shape. Get in game shape and find a rhythm. That’s what I try to use it for. It felt good. It felt good for us to get a win,” Davis said.
Davis finished with a game-high 28 in 21 minutes played tonight, shooting 50% from the floor and from behind the arc, going 2-for-4 from three and 9-for-18 overall.
Kendrick Nunn has been outperforming all expectations from fans throughout the preseason, giving them reminders of how good Nunn can be, just like the outings he had against the Lakers team in the 2020 Finals.
“Stay with our habits. Get after it defensively. We’re going to score the ball. We’re not worried about the offensive side,” Nunn added, “Getting down on the defensive side and getting some stops. That’s what our main priority is.”
Nunn finished second on the Lakers with 21 points off the bench, shooting 4-for-7 (61%) from three while notching 7 assists and 4 rebounds in 25 minutes of action.
Second-year pro Matt Ryan made the best of his opportunity in tonight’s game, scoring 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting from behind the arc, scoring all his shots and attempts from three.
“I know I can shoot with the best of ‘em, and I’m just going to keep getting better and staying ready for my opportunities,” Ryan said.
Ryan caught fire in the 4th quarter for the purple and gold, scoring 16 of his 20 points and four threes in the final quarter of the game before helping the Lakers win with clutch free throws.
The Lakers will play their fifth preseason game back home this Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 7:00 PM on ESPN, in their second matchup against them this preseason.
