The Los Angeles Lakers gave JJ Redick plenty to like in their preseason opener, beating the Sacramento Kings 127–103 behind strong three-point shooting and an active defense. Los Angeles improved to 1–0 while showing an early glimpse of how Redick wants this team to play.
It is only preseason, but the way the Lakers won was encouraging. They took 44 threes, forced 26 turnovers, and put JJ’s principles into practice.
Shooting Threes
Los Angeles made 20 of its 44 three-point attempts, shooting 45.5% from beyond the arc. Those 20 makes were more than the Lakers recorded in any game last season, making their first preseason outing a strong start for an offense looking to embrace the three.
The Lakers will not shoot that well every night, but the willingness to keep firing matters. Taking 44 threes gives them a foundation to build on, especially if they keep creating shots players feel comfortable taking.
Sacramento could not keep up from the perimeter, finishing just 4-for-23 from three. The Lakers scored 60 points from beyond the arc compared with the Kings’ 12, giving Los Angeles a sizable advantage in a game it won by 24.
Aggressive Defense
The shooting stood out, but the Lakers also gave Sacramento problems on the other end. Los Angeles finished with 15 steals and four blocks, combining for 19 while helping force 26 turnovers.
That kind of activity is an encouraging sign for a team trying to make defense a bigger part of its identity. Forcing turnovers takes scoring opportunities away from the opponent and can create chances to attack before the defense gets set.
The Kings shot 45.1% overall, making 37 of their 82 attempts, and struggled badly from three. Sacramento’s misses were part of the story, but the turnovers gave the Lakers another way to get stops instead of relying solely on poor shooting.
Luka Gets Help
Doncic finished with 21 points, leading the Lakers’ scoring effort among the three players highlighted here. Carr added 19 points, while Grimes chipped in 16, giving Los Angeles useful production alongside its star.
Carr’s performance was particularly encouraging as he works to earn opportunities. A 19-point outing gives him something to build on, though the rest of the preseason will better show how consistently he can contribute.
Grimes also gave the Lakers another scoring option. Having players around Doncic who can contribute offensively should help Los Angeles get more out of the attention he draws.
A Promising Start for Redick
Plenty remains to sort out before the regular season, and one preseason win will not answer every question about this roster. Still, the Lakers showed the shooting and defensive effort Redick is looking for.
The challenge now is making those habits stick. Against Sacramento, Los Angeles gave itself a promising starting point.
