Here is what you need to know before the Lakers face the Golden State Warriors in a preseason exhibition in Las Vegas.
1)
D’Angelo Russell has been one of the league’s biggest standouts during preseason, ranking fifth in scoring with 20.2 points per game. Russell has topped 30 points twice in five contests, including in Thursday’s first game in Vegas, when he racked up 31 on 10-of-14 shooting with 11 assists in a loss to Sacramento.
2)
The Lakers will trot out a different starting five against Golden State, with Lou Williams given the night off. Candidates to replace him at shooting guard include Jordan Clarkson — who has scored double figures in all five games off the bench — and Nick Young — who has been money from 3-point range, shooting 11-of-19 and averaging 2.8 Swaggy 3s per contest.
Nick Young Preseason Shot Chart
3)
Luke Walton will get his first reunion with the team that he was an assistant for the past two years. Golden State head coach Steve Kerr joked with the media Thursday, announcing that he’ll rest Andre Iguodala and David West because he wanted to “give Luke every opportunity to prepare for tomorrow’s clash.” Walton said he doesn’t foresee too much trash talk between him and Kerr, but that he might have some in store for Draymond Green.
4)
The Warriors are, of course, an expected juggernaut heading into this season, having added 2014 MVP Kevin Durant to a roster featuring reigning, two-time MVP Stephen Curry and All-Stars Green and Klay Thompson. The collection has been a success so far, with Durant and Thompson averaging 18.5 points in watered-down minutes, as Golden State has compiled a 3-1 preseason record.
5)
This will be the Lakers’ second and final preseason game in Las Vegas. The purple and gold have strong roots in the city, as it has been the setting for a few memorable moments, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar breaking the NBA’s all-time scoring record and Kobe Bryant winning his second of four All-Star Game MVPs.
Injury Note: Jose Calderon will not play due to a mild strain of his left calf. He will be re-evaluated in Los Angeles on Monday.
Tip-off: 7 p.m. PT
TV: Spectrum SportsNet and Spectrum Deportes in L.A. NBA TV everywhere else.
Radio: 710 ESPN and 1330 KWKW