SACRAMENTO, CA — The Los Angeles Lakers did not wait long to show why this roster was rebuilt around length, shooting and defensive pressure.
Los Angeles opened the 2026 preseason with a commanding 127-103 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Monday at Golden 1 Center, turning its first exhibition into an early look at a potentially disruptive new identity.
Luka Dončić scored 21 points in fewer than 16 minutes, the Lakers buried 20 three-pointers and their defense forced 27 Sacramento turnovers. The result does not count in the standings, but the shape of the performance mattered.
A New Defensive Personality Emerges
Sacramento committed a shot-clock violation on the opening possession, a fitting introduction to the pressure the Lakers applied throughout the night. Head coach JJ Redick used multiple wings to pick up the ball full court, switch actions and attack passing lanes before the Kings could settle into their offense.
The Lakers finished with 15 steals and converted Sacramento’s 27 turnovers into 32 points. Los Angeles forced four steals in the first quarter alone after averaging 8.5 per game last season.
Redick has called the point at which his defense begins applying pressure a “line of confrontation.” On Monday, that line often started in the backcourt.
Ziaire Williams handled difficult on-ball assignments, chased the ball across the floor and still supplied 13 points while making all three of his attempts from behind the arc. Matisse Thybulle added two steals and two three-pointers, giving the Lakers exactly the defense-and-spacing combination they envisioned when reshaping the roster.
Quentin Grimes and Adou Thiero also contributed to the full-court pressure. One preseason performance cannot establish a defensive identity, particularly against a Sacramento team expected to struggle, but the Lakers already look equipped to make opponents work harder simply to begin their offense.
Luka Dončić Sets the Tone Early
Dončić needed only the first half to leave his mark. The Lakers’ franchise centerpiece finished with 21 points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals while shooting 5-for-12 from the floor and 3-for-9 from three-point range.
There were five turnovers and some preseason looseness, but Dončić consistently bent the Sacramento defense and created clean looks for the shooters around him. He took a knee to the side of his thigh during the second quarter but remained in the game. With Los Angeles holding a 73-47 halftime advantage, there was no reason for him to return after the break.
The most encouraging offensive development was not Dončić’s scoring total. It was how naturally the floor opened around him.
The Three-Point Volume Was No Accident
The Lakers made 20 of their 44 three-point attempts, good for 45.5 percent. For perspective, their regular-season high last year was 19 made threes.
Nobody should expect Los Angeles to shoot at that rate every night, but the volume is worth watching. Williams, Thybulle, Grimes and the rest of the supporting cast repeatedly punished Sacramento for loading toward Dončić. If the Lakers can consistently create that kind of spacing, the offense will become much harder to shrink.
The combination of three-point volume and live-ball turnovers also gave Los Angeles more opportunities to play in transition. That is where the athleticism of the new roster was most visible.
Cameron Carr Makes His First Impression
Rookie Cameron Carr made the most of his extended second-half opportunity, scoring 19 points on 7-for-13 shooting. Jake LaRavia added 12 points, while Williams’ efficient first half helped Los Angeles build the cushion that effectively ended the competitive portion of the game.
Carr’s scoring will receive attention, but preseason minutes are primarily about earning trust. His activity, confidence and willingness to attack provided Redick with another positive data point as the Lakers evaluate the back end of their rotation.
Lakers Open Short-Handed
Los Angeles produced the blowout without Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton or Arthur Kaluma.
Reaves was held out after tweaking his ankle, while Kessler jammed a finger on the backboard during practice. Sexton and Kaluma were unavailable with lower-body issues. Redick indicated before the game that the injuries were not considered serious and that all four players were day-to-day.
The absences make it difficult to draw conclusions about the eventual starting lineup, but they also created a useful test of the roster’s depth. The Lakers responded by putting Sacramento under pressure from nearly every position.
What Comes Next
The Lakers travel to San Francisco to face the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night, the second game of a back-to-back and the second of three exhibitions in four days.
Expect availability and rotations to change quickly. The larger question is whether the defensive activity and three-point volume seen in Sacramento can become repeatable traits rather than one-night preseason flashes.
For one night, at least, the Lakers looked deeper, faster and considerably more uncomfortable to play against.
Statistics and game information via the official NBA box score.