The Los Angeles Lakers get their fourth preseason game on Tuesday in Las Vegas against the Golden State Warriors, a rematch that comes nine days before their season opener against the same opponent. The timing makes this more than another exhibition. It is the closest thing left to a dress rehearsal.
The reason people are looking at Warriors vs Lakers now is simple: the Lakers are trying to turn early preseason flashes into something usable before the games count. Luka Dončić has already given them one sharp sign of life, scoring 23 points in 25 minutes in a recent win over the Sacramento Kings, and Austin Reaves made his preseason debut in that game as well. JJ Redick said the roster “actually fits together,” which is the kind of line coaches use when they see pieces beginning to click rather than merely occupy the same floor.
That is the weight of Tuesday. The Lakers are chasing their third exhibition victory, and every clean possession matters because the roster has changed enough that chemistry is now a real question, not a talking point. Sandro Mamukelashvili has stood out in preseason play so far, which adds to the sense that the Lakers are still learning who can carry a meaningful role and how quickly the group can settle into one rhythm.
But the game also comes with a built-in problem for anyone expecting a full rehearsal. The Warriors already blew out the Lakers last week, and the key players for both teams may not suit up on Tuesday. That means the matchup can still offer clues, but not the kind that usually settle anything. If the stars sit, the result may say less about the next nine days than about which side is willing to use preseason minutes more aggressively.
Even so, the Lakers do not have much time to wait for answers. They play their first home preseason game against the Kings on Thursday, and the stretch from Tuesday to their season opener will be the last chance to sort out combinations, pace and trust against a familiar opponent. If the roster really does “actually fit together,” Tuesday in Las Vegas should at least show how close that is to being true.
