Warriors vs Lakers: Golden State rallies from 20 down
Key takeaways
- Golden State beat Los Angeles 101-89 in Las Vegas, according to Fadeaway World. The Warriors trailed by 20 points before they rallied late.
- Austin Reaves scored 28 points with seven assists for the Lakers, according to Fadeaway World. Luka Doncic sat out on a rest night.
- Yaxel Lendeborg scored 17 points for Golden State, according to NBC Sports. He tweaked his left ankle but he returned to the game.
Golden State beat Los Angeles 101-89 in Las Vegas on October 13. The Warriors trailed by 20 points before they rallied. Fadeaway World reported the final score.
What happened
The game started at 7 pm PT. It took place at T-Mobile Arena. Silver Screen and Roll listed the time and venue.
The Lakers built a big early lead. Sports Illustrated reported a 70-50 Lakers lead. That left Golden State down by 20 points.
Reaves scored 23 points in the first half. NBC Sports reported his first-half total. He carried the Lakers early without Doncic.
That early burst gave Los Angeles its big lead. The lead did not last. Golden State chipped away after halftime.
Sports Illustrated linked the rally to a 14-0 third-quarter run. Yaxel Lendeborg played a big part in that run. He made play after play to pull Golden State back.
Yaxel Lendeborg scored 17 points for Golden State. NBC Sports reported his numbers. He added five rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
He shot 5-of-11 from the field. He made 6-of-9 free throws. NBC Sports listed both marks.
Brandin Podziemski also scored 17 points. Fadeaway World reported his total. Golden State spread the scoring across the roster.
Stephen Curry scored 11 points in 23 minutes. Fadeaway World reported his line. He shot 3-of-9 from the field.
Curry had a quiet scoring night. Sports Illustrated reported his 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting. The same report noted two assists and three turnovers.
The Lakers could not hold their big lead. Fadeaway World pointed to turnovers as the big issue. Los Angeles finished with 29 turnovers.
Los Angeles shot 43.4 percent from the field. The team shot 26.5 percent from three-point range. Fadeaway World reported both numbers.
Los Angeles made only nine of 34 three-point shots. That cold shooting hurt the Lakers late. Fadeaway World listed the three-point numbers.
The box score tells a clear story. Golden State won despite weak three-point shooting. Fadeaway World put the Warriors at 28.0 percent from three.
Los Angeles shot better from the field. The Lakers still lost by 12 points. Fadeaway World reported the 12-point gap.
Golden State took care of the ball better. The Warriors turned Lakers mistakes into points. Fadeaway World said Golden State capitalized on the mistakes.
Luka Doncic sat out this game. Fadeaway World said he sat out. NBC Sports called it a rest night.
His absence left a big gap. Austin Reaves took on a bigger role. Reaves led the Lakers in scoring.
Austin Reaves scored 28 points for Los Angeles. He added seven assists. Fadeaway World reported both numbers.
Reaves shot 10-of-18 from the field. He made four three-point shots. He made all four free throws.
Reaves also had seven turnovers. Fadeaway World listed the turnovers. Fadeaway World said the turnovers made the night a little less clean.
Walker Kessler made his preseason debut for the Lakers. NBC Sports reported the debut. He scored 11 points in 16 minutes.
Kessler grabbed nine rebounds. He shot 4-of-6 from the field. Fadeaway World reported his numbers.
Kessler gave the Lakers size inside. He added one steal and one block. Fadeaway World listed both plays.
Sandro Mamukelashvili scored 10 points for Los Angeles. He grabbed seven rebounds. Fadeaway World reported his numbers.
The Lakers still fell short late. Golden State finished the comeback. Fadeaway World reported the 101-89 final score.
Lendeborg tweaked his left ankle in the third quarter. NBC Sports reported the tweak. He still shot his free throws before he left the floor.
He was not limping when he left. He returned to the game later. NBC Sports reported his return.
NBC Sports saw no reason for worry about opening night. The report said he should be part of the starting unit. That news matters for Golden State fans.
Why it matters
Preseason games test lineups and roles. Coaches learn who fits where. This game gave both teams clear lessons.
Golden State showed fight without its best rhythm. The Warriors won despite poor three-point shooting. Fadeaway World said Golden State shot 28.0 percent from three.
Sports Illustrated called Lendeborg the Warriors best offensive player that night. He stayed aggressive against a big center. He attacked Kessler on several drives.
Lendeborg had not faced an elite rim protector yet this preseason. Sports Illustrated said Kessler gave him his first taste. He stayed aggressive after a big block.
Kessler blocked his reverse layup attempt. Sports Illustrated noted the block and his response. Lendeborg kept attacking the paint.
That poise matters for a young player. Rookies often fade after a big block. Lendeborg kept going instead.
Curry had a quiet scoring night. One quiet night means little in preseason. Golden State still found a way to win.
For the Lakers, the loss exposed ball control issues. Fadeaway World called the 29 turnovers staggering. Turnovers broke the Lakers rhythm late.
Reaves showed he can carry the scoring load. He did it without Doncic on the floor. That depth matters when stars rest.
Kessler showed quick value in short minutes. Eleven points and nine rebounds in 16 minutes stand out. Fadeaway World noted his team-best plus-15 mark.
Preseason is about process more than results. Silver Screen and Roll said process matters more than the result. Both teams can use this game to fix mistakes.
Another preseason game also had a rookie leg injury. Preseason health is a key theme across the league. Teams watch every knock in these games.
Oklahoma City also played an overtime game that night. NBC Sports reported a 114-112 Thunder win over the Pacers. Read our recap of the Thunder overtime win.
What happens next
Both teams now turn to the next preseason games. The Lakers need cleaner ball control. The Warriors need sharper shooting.
Doncic sat for rest in this game. Rest nights are normal in preseason. The Lakers will want him back on the floor soon.
Lendeborg will draw more eyes after this game. Coaches may trust him with bigger minutes. Fans will watch his next outing with care.
Curry will look to find his shot. One quiet night means little in preseason. His next game will tell more.
The two teams meet again in the season opener. Silver Screen and Roll noted the opener is also against Golden State. That game will count in the standings.
That rematch will carry more weight. Preseason lessons will face a real test. Fans can expect a sharper game then.
For now, this game stays a preseason lesson. Golden State learned it can rally from deep down. Los Angeles learned it must protect the ball.
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