Lakers fall to Warriors in first preseason matchup
San Francisco — The Los Angeles Lakers kicked off the 2023–24 season in its first preseason matchup, falling to the Golden State Warriors 125-108 on Saturday.
With LeBron James and Austin Reaves out of the lineup for precautionary reasons, the starting unit consisted of D’Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura and Anthony Davis.
Davis began the game aggressively from beyond the three-point line, a skill head coach Darvin Ham emphasized as something to take when open. He knocked down back-to-back three-pointers in the first quarter, finishing 2-for-3 from deep on the night.
“I think all our guys, for the most part, played hard and competed [Tonight],” Davis said.
Russell played aggressively while looking comfortable at his pace for the Lakers. He finished with 15 points in 15 minutes while dishing out five assists in the game.
Russell finished with a 60% shooting percentage from the floor while shooting 2-for-3 from three.
Max Christie, 20, made a notable impact during his 24 minutes off the bench, tallying 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Christie showcased his versatility, highlighting his role as the backup shooting guard in his second year.
“He’s a guy that’s gonna be one of our most versatile basketball players on the roster," head coach Darvin Ham said on the sophomore’s ceiling.
During the fourth quarter, free agent acquisition Cam Reddish rolled his ankle after stepping on the Warriors’ Lester Quinones in a help-defense situation. Reddish was subsequently taken to the locker room and did not return.
Free-agent additions Christian Wood and Taurean Prince played minutes alongside Davis in lineups during the first half, providing a preview of a lineup that will be featured throughout the season.
Wood went 2-for-8 from the floor and ended with five points and four rebounds in 19 minutes.
In 12 minutes, Prince finished with two points and was 1-for-5 from the floor before picking up his sixth foul, resulting in his early exit after fouling out.
Rookie Jalen Hood-Schifino played the second-most minutes off the bench, totaling 23 minutes on the court. Despite a 3-for-11 shooting performance, Hood-Schifino showcased active hustle, concluding the game with seven points, six rebounds, and two assists.
The Lakers will play their second preseason game in Las Vegas on Monday at 6 p.m. against the Brooklyn Nets.
