The Lakers beat the Brooklyn Nets 129-126 in their preseason opener in Las Vegas, including contributions from LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Anthony Davis.
The Lakers’ starters sat out the second half but looked sharp in the first. While Davis almost had a double-double with 13 points and 7 boards, Reaves scored 18 points in just 20 minutes of action, while James finished with 10 points, 5 assists, and 3 boards.
D’Angelo Russell was on fire, hitting 4 of 5 threes for 14 points on the day. After starting the game, Taurean Prince was replaced by Rui Hachimura, and Hachimura took full advantage of his opportunity to contribute with 19 points.
The Lakers were testing out a starting group that may see action on opening night against the Nets, so they knew the first few minutes against Brooklyn were crucial. Davis made his presence felt immediately, blocking the opening shot attempt by the Nets and then handing it off to Reaves for a 3-pointer. When Jaxson Hayes replaced LeBron, the Lakers were ahead 21-18 thanks to three consecutive three-pointers from D’Angelo Russell.
At one time, the Lakers led by eight points, but an 8-0 run by the Nets cut the deficit to just one, and after a pair of free throws by former Laker Lonnie Walker IV late in the first quarter, the Nets carried a one-point lead into the second.
The Lakers spent the first half trying out several lineups before starting the second with James, Davis, and Christian Wood. This group scored seven consecutive points and outscored Brooklyn, 17-5, to take the lead and ultimately win the game. The Lakers’ defense kept the Nets scoreless, and they went into halftime up 75-61.
LeBron, Davis, and Russell all sat out the second half because it was only the preseason. In the third quarter, the bench team struggled and blew a 14-point lead, prompting coach Darvin Ham to take a timeout at the 7:05 mark.
Midway through the first, Cam Thomas and Reaves engaged in a three-point contest (which Thomas won 3-2 before being taken out), and the remainder of the quarter was a shambles.
The young Lakers were given greater playing time in the second quarter. Max Christie continued to struggle with foul trouble, picking up four in the opening 12 minutes of play, while Jalen Hood-Schifino showed promise in 15 minutes and Maxwell Lewis had a great fourth quarter, finishing the game with a.500 field goal percentage (four for five). Most significantly, he performed his first “freeze” celebration of the preseason.
The Lakers’ young core sealed the deal against the Nets in the fourth quarter with a Lewis dunk, a D’Moi Hodge charge, and a buzzer-beating rebound from Colin Castleton. This is a remarkable achievement for anyone.