The Los Angeles Lakers fell to 1-3 in preseason play after a 111-97 loss to the Golden State Warriors at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Despite strong individual performances, the Lakers struggled to maintain offensive consistency throughout the game.
Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 24 points and 12 rebounds in 26 minutes. Rookie Dalton Knecht added 19 points off the bench, while Rui Hachimura contributed 15 points and 9 rebounds. Austin Reaves chipped in with 13 points, but LeBron James had a quiet outing, scoring just 6 points.
The Lakers’ shooting was a major issue, as they hit only 35.8% of their field goals and 27.5% from beyond the arc. The Warriors capitalized on the Lakers’ offensive struggles, winning all four quarters (31-28, 27-23, 25-19, 28-27) and gradually building their lead.
After the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick shared his thoughts on the team’s performance. “I was highly encouraged with the shots we got,” Redick said. “It was when we didn’t trust our offense and got a little stagnant that we struggled, especially in the third quarter.”
The Lakers managed only 19 points in the third quarter, a stretch where Davis scored eight points in four consecutive isolation plays. Redick acknowledged the decision to rely on Davis in those possessions but admitted that the offense became stagnant. “We just didn’t play good offense that quarter,” Redick said. “That happens sometimes. It’s a growth opportunity, a learning lesson for our group.”
Redick also emphasized the importance of trust and ball movement within the offense. He noted that when shots aren’t falling, players tend to look for individual ways to get going, which can disrupt the flow of the game. “You stop trusting, you start thinking, ‘I got to get myself going,’ and that’s not how we want to play,” Redick explained. “It’s okay. It happens. We’ll get better.”
Despite the loss, Redick remained optimistic about the team’s shot selection, particularly in the first half. He noted that while the Lakers generated good opportunities, they simply couldn’t convert them. “I was pleased with the type of shots we were generating,” he said, confident that the team would improve as they continue to work through their preseason struggles.
The Lakers will face the Warriors again at Chase Center on October 18, giving them another opportunity to find their rhythm before the start of the regular season. With Redick at the helm, the team looks to fine-tune its execution and regain offensive cohesion ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
