The Los Angeles Lakers closed their preseason with a 121-106 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday, finishing 2-3 ahead of the regular season. Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 19 points, while Luka Dončić added 15 in just 18 first-half minutes. Despite a promising start from Ziaire Williams in his return, the Lakers fell behind by 14 after the first quarter and couldn’t close the gap.
The matchup gave the Lakers an early look at their new lineup combinations, particularly the first extended minutes shared by Dončić, Reaves, and Walker Kessler. Kessler contributed six points, six rebounds, and four assists, but the Lakers struggled with six turnovers in the opening quarter, which helped Denver build the early lead. Reaves acknowledged the lack of experience playing together, saying, “There’s gonna be some growing pains. Just a lack of reps together so far.”
The Lakers’ remaining practices before opening night will focus on improving the timing and chemistry between their primary ballhandlers and center, especially understanding when to set screens, roll, and make themselves available for passes. The trio’s ability to sync up will be critical for the offense’s consistency.
Williams returned from foot soreness with a quick impact, scoring 14 points in only 10 minutes. His sharp cuts and ability to pressure the ball caught the attention of assistant coach JJ Redick, who said, “He played really well. He made some shots. I think he has a really nice instinctual timing on his cuts.” Williams’ movement off the ball adds another dimension to the Lakers’ offense, particularly when defenders focus on Dončić. “I know if a guy is not looking, and if I have a straight cut to the basket, Luka’s gonna throw it up,” Williams explained.
Redick hopes Williams can build on this performance and increase his minutes during the upcoming practices. His ability to create passing lanes and finish plays without needing the offense to revolve around him gives him a chance to make the wing rotation competitive.
Sandro Mamukelashvili continued his strong preseason with 15 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Redick praised his quick decision-making and ability to connect the offense, saying, “He’s just a really quick decision maker. We’ve been able to have good spacing and he’s just a really good connector.” Mamukelashvili’s shooting adds spacing, but his value extends to keeping possessions fluid when initial scoring options vanish.
Redick also highlighted Mamukelashvili’s role in initiating transition plays after defensive rebounds, a quality that allows the Lakers to attack before defenses settle. The assistant coach pointed to the benefits of having a big man who can advance the ball, referencing former Lakers great Lamar Odom as a comparison. This versatility could earn Mamukelashvili consistent minutes alongside the star backcourt.
The Lakers will use the remaining practices to iron out these issues and find the right balance before the regular season opener. The loss to the Nuggets underscored the work ahead but also showcased promising performances from their younger players.
According to Yahoo Sports.