This preseason opener comes down to the calendar more than the rosters. The Lakers start with a back-to-back on the road, with a third game later in the same week, while Sacramento is at home with three days before its next game. Luka Doncic is returning from a long hamstring layoff, and JJ Redick has talked about rhythm rather than heavy minutes. I expect a lot more of this game to be Kings regulars against Lakers depth than the price suggests.
The Lakers set up this week themselves: Sacramento first, Golden State the very next night, then another game a couple of days later. Their own beat coverage expects there won't be full rosters for any of these games, and it points out that in past preseasons the stars played just one of three games in a stretch like this. The road opener of a back-to-back is the natural night to hold people back.
Doncic hasn't played competitive basketball in six months after the hamstring injury that ended his season. Redick has said he'll play in preseason, but how many of the five games is still open, and the focus has been on getting into a rhythm rather than playing extended minutes.
Sacramento's picture is the reverse. The 22-60 record from last season came with Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and Keegan Murray missing big chunks of the year, and the reports from camp say the key pieces are back and healthy. Add De'Andre Hunter and the debut of No. 7 pick Darius Acuff Jr. in front of the home crowd, and the Kings have every reason to play their group and play hard.
