Lakers Host Kings in Preseason Rematch Thursday After Back-to-Back Split

LOS ANGELES — Three days after opening the preseason in Sacramento, the Lakers get the Kings again — this time at home. Thursday's 7:30 p.m. PT tip at Crypto.com Arena, broadcast nationally on ESPN2 according to EssentiallySports, is the quick-turn rematch of Monday's opener, and it comes after a back-to-back that told two very different stories about where this team stands.

Monday: Doncic in midseason form

The Lakers spent training camp talking about becoming a more disruptive defensive team, and the preseason opener offered an encouraging first look. Los Angeles beat Sacramento 127-103 on Monday at Golden 1 Center, building a 73-47 halftime lead before a crowd of 15,130 despite playing without Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton.

Luka Doncic led the way with 21 points in the first half — connecting from beyond the arc, attacking the lane, getting to the free-throw line and creating in transition — and he was so effective there was no need to play him in the second half. Bleacher Report noted the offense is clearly going to run through Doncic with LeBron James no longer on the roster. Quentin Grimes added 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting, Ziaire Williams finished with 13 points and made all three of his 3-point attempts, and Matisse Thybulle recorded two steals. The Lakers forced 26 turnovers and recorded 15 steals, turning that pressure into easy offense. "We just consistently just did the right play, and the right play helped our teammates," coach JJ Redick said afterward.

The rookie who stole the second half

If Doncic owned the first half, rookie Cameron Carr owned the second. The 24th overall pick out of Baylor turned heads with 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting — including 3-of-7 from three — plus three rebounds, two assists and two steals in 23 minutes off the bench. Fifteen of his 19 points came after halftime while the starters mostly rested.

Carr dazzled in the open court and showed a Kevin Durant-esque touch on a midrange jumper, and he admitted afterward the moment got to him. "I was definitely nervous," Carr said via Spectrum SportsNet. "It is real, human. I was definitely nervous, but it is basketball; I enjoy having fun." Redick has gushed about Carr's potential all camp — the Lakers reportedly had the rookie much higher on their draft board than where they got him — and Carr made it clear he knows what will decide his rotation case: "Defense, defense," he said. "Just staying on top of my cues, don't be late, and don't give lapses up." NBA TV analyst Sean Little was impressed with the rookie's ability to create his own offense, noting that outside of Doncic and Reaves, the Lakers badly need more players who can handle the ball.

"Earn your minutes"

Bronny James had a quiet box score Monday — 3 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and a block in 16 minutes — but his defense told the real story, and it caught the eye of a former NBA champion calling the game. With the Lakers leading 30-24, Bronny stayed low on the perimeter against Clifford, knocked the ball loose and was the first player to hit the floor to recover it. "Great defense," Danny Green said on the broadcast. "Diving on the floor again, first one to the ground — this is how you earn your minutes."

It wasn't an isolated moment. On the next possession Bronny cut off passing angles against Maxime Raynaud, and when Sandro Mamukelashvili joined the pressure with a double-team, a forced bad pass landed in Adou Thiero's hands. Redick has made defensive pressure a clear point of emphasis for Bronny: defend with pressure, create discomfort, impact the game without the ball. With the roster still needing to be trimmed to 15 before opening night, every rep matters for the third-year guard.

Tuesday: the back-to-back reality check

The second night was a different sport. On the second night of a back-to-back, the Lakers were without Doncic (rest), Reaves (ankle), Kessler (finger), Thybulle, Sexton (lower body) and two-way forward Arthur Kaluma (lower body). Redick started Bronny James, Quentin Grimes, Adou Thiero, Jake LaRavia and Mamukelashvili, and the Warriors — with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and other top rotation pieces available — rolled 124-98 at Chase Center.

It was the first half that was particularly rough for L.A., which lost the first quarter 45-31 and the second 36-22. Redick was unhappy with the effort, particularly the opening sequences, LakersNation reported. "I still expect to win, and I still expect us to play to our standards, and that first half did not meet my expectations," he said after the loss.

Bronny's first career preseason start was a mixed bag: 4 points, 5 assists, 3 turnovers and 4 fouls in 21 minutes, with a couple of encouraging midrange jumpers — including one over Draymond Green. Mamukelashvili led the Lakers with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting, Grimes had 12, and Jaden Hardy added 13 off the bench. Curry dropped 16 points in just 14 minutes for Golden State, and Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg led all scorers with 17 points and nine rebounds. Golden State shot 51.3 percent from the field and knocked down 15 threes.

Life after LeBron

All of this is unfolding in the first preseason of the post-LeBron James era. James left the Lakers as a free agent this summer and signed a two-year deal worth roughly $8 million with the Philadelphia 76ers in July — what he called "my last decision" in the NBA, setting up his record-extending 24th season at age 41 alongside Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey. "I didn't leave my family to lose in the second round," James said at his introductory press conference. The move sent shockwaves through the league: within 48 hours of the July signing, sales of his No. 23 Sixers jersey broke the Fanatics record for any athlete joining a new team. The Spun also reported James is managing a diagnosis of chronic arthritis in his left foot.

For the Lakers, the meaning is clear: the franchise is Doncic's now, with Reaves as the co-star and a deep, defense-first supporting cast being built around them.

What to watch Thursday

The rematch gives Sacramento a chance at revenge and gives Redick another data point on the rotation battles. The questions: does Doncic return after sitting Tuesday, and how sharp does he look? Do Reaves and Kessler get back on the floor? Does Bronny build on the start with another case for minutes? Does Carr keep pushing toward the rotation — or does the preseason shine fade against a Kings team that has now seen him once?

Grimes, who started both games of the back-to-back, looks softly penciled in as a starter. The rest of the rotation is still being auditioned. Tip is 7:30 p.m. PT at Crypto.com Arena on ESPN2.