Luka Doncic sits out for rest as Lakers face Warriors in preseason
Key takeaways
- Luka Doncic sat out Tuesday for rest, not because of an injury.
- Coach JJ Redick said Doncic is fine and just got the night off.
- Walker Kessler made his Lakers debut in the same game.
Luka Doncic did not play on Tuesday night. The Los Angeles Lakers faced the Golden State Warriors in a preseason game. Doncic sat out for rest.
He is not hurt. Coach JJ Redick made that clear before the game. Doncic just got the night off.
The game took place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It was the second-to-last preseason game for the Lakers. The regular season starts in just over a week.
What happened
The Lakers played the Warriors on Tuesday. It was a preseason game. These games do not count in the standings.
Teams use them to test players and try new plans.
Doncic was ruled out before the game. Redick told the media that Doncic was getting the night off. According to ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin, Redick said Doncic is not injured.
This was the second time Doncic sat out against the Warriors in preseason. He also missed the first preseason game between the two teams nearly a week ago.
Doncic was not the only Laker who missed the game. Four other players sat out too. Collin Sexton, Adou Thiero, Ziaire Williams, and Cameron Carr all missed the game.
Redick said those four have small day-to-day injuries. He said their issues are not serious.
The Warriors also rested a key player. Coach Steve Kerr said Draymond Green would rest. Charles Bassey took his place in the starting lineup.
The Warriors have one more injury worry. Kristaps Porzingis met with the team medical staff on Tuesday. Kerr said there is no update yet on when Porzingis will play.
So both teams were short of star power. The game still gave fans one big moment. Walker Kessler played his first game as a Laker.
Why it matters
Doncic is the Lakers star. Any news about him moves fast. When a star sits out, fans worry.
They ask if he is hurt. They ask if the season is at risk.
This time the answer is simple. Doncic is fine. He got a rest night.
Rest nights are normal in preseason. Coaches save their stars for games that count.
Doncic has played well in preseason. He has scored 22.0 points per game. He has grabbed 2.5 rebounds per game.
He has passed for 3.0 assists per game. He has shot 39.3 percent from the field. He has shot 33.3 percent from three-point range.
Those numbers come from a small sample. But they show he is in good form. He does not need more preseason minutes to prove it.
The rest night also shows how the Lakers think. The regular season is long. It lasts for months.
The team wants Doncic fresh when it starts. One extra preseason game is not worth the risk.
The same logic applies to the other Lakers who sat out. Sexton, Thiero, Williams, and Carr have small issues. The team will not rush them back.
Preseason is a time to heal, not to push.
What about Walker Kessler
Kessler was the big story of the night. He made his Lakers debut against the Warriors. He missed the first three preseason games with a finger injury.
Kessler is a center. He is 25 years old. He was the Lakers big offseason addition.
The team got him in a sign-and-trade deal with the Utah Jazz. He signed a four-year contract worth 130 million dollars.
Kessler has not played much in a long time. He played only five games last season with the Jazz. A shoulder injury ended his season early.
So Tuesday was his first game action in nearly a year.
He said he wants to play very badly. He said he trusts the staff, the trainers, and the coaches. He said he will listen to them.
The Lakers hope Kessler will fix their defense. They want him to guard the rim. They want him to catch lobs from Doncic.
The two have not yet shared the court in a game. Fans must wait a bit more for that first look.
Kessler watched the Lakers play defense without him. He liked what he saw. He praised the wing defenders.
He named Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, Quentin Grimes, and Jake LaRavia. He said they are great on-ball defenders.
He also praised Doncic and Austin Reaves. He said they are smart off-ball players. His words show he has been watching and learning.
Why the Lakers could not field a full team
Redick wanted one preseason game with all his key players. He wanted to see the full team play together. That plan has not worked out yet.
Injuries and rest nights kept the group apart. Tuesday was another missed chance. Doncic sat for rest.
Four more players sat with small injuries. Kessler played, but without Doncic next to him.
The Lakers have one last chance. They play the Denver Nuggets on Friday. The game is at their home arena in Los Angeles.
That is the final preseason game.
Redick hopes to have all his key players for that game. If not, the first full look will come on opening night.
What happens next
The Lakers open the regular season on October 21. They face the Warriors again. That game is at their home arena in Los Angeles.
It is not yet clear if Doncic will play in the Friday game against Denver. The team may rest him again. The team may also give him a short run to stay sharp.
Either way, the plan points to opening night.
The Lakers will also keep an eye on the four day-to-day players. Sexton, Thiero, Williams, and Carr need to heal. The team will check them each day.
The Warriors have their own plan. Their last preseason game is Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers. They will also watch Porzingis.
His health is their main worry.
For fans, the message is calm. Doncic sat out for rest. The coach said so in plain words.
The star is fine. The team is saving him for games that count.
Preseason is a warm-up. The real show starts on October 21. That night, Doncic and Stephen Curry will meet again.
The Lakers will hope their full team is ready at last.
Read more: Thunder rookie Otega Oweh suffers leg injury in overtime win over Pacers. Also see the Thunder edge Pacers 114-112 in overtime as Haliburton shines. More Lakers news: why LA keeps saying no to Austin Reaves trades.
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