JJ Redick Says What Went Right in Lakers’ Preseason Win vs. Kings

The Los Angeles Lakers spent training camp emphasizing defensive pressure, communication and physicality. Their preseason opener gave JJ Redick an encouraging first look at those priorities against another team.

L.A. defeated the Sacramento Kings 127-103 on Monday, building a comfortable lead before halftime and getting contributions throughout the roster. Redick’s assessment afterward centered on how the Lakers defended and how that activity helped their offense.

The connection between the two ends was evident. Defensive stops gave the Lakers opportunities to advance the ball, while quick decisions helped them find shots without requiring every possession to run through Luka Dončić.

For a team integrating new players, that provides something specific to build on. The next step is sustaining those habits when opponents protect the ball better and force the Lakers to execute deeper into possessions.

Redick said the Lakers forced 27 turnovers, including 16 in the first half, pointing to the disruption his team had worked on during camp.

“The defense carried over,” Redick said.

He also credited the wings, particularly Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle, with establishing the early tone. Both started alongside Dončić, Quentin Grimes and Kevon Looney.

Williams and Thybulle give L.A. options for applying pressure before an opponent settles into its offense. That approach can shorten the time available to initiate a play and make routine passes more difficult.

Communication was another positive in Redick’s evaluation. He indicated that players talking through possessions helped them defend with confidence and physicality.

That matters when defenders extend their pressure. The teammates behind them must recognize potential openings and cover them before an opponent turns an aggressive closeout or ball pressure into an easy basket.

The preseason offers room to work through those responsibilities. Against Sacramento, Redick saw enough coordination to believe the practice emphasis was translating.

The Lakers finished with 29 assists and 24 fast-break points, shooting 50% from the field and 45.5% from 3-point range. They also committed 21 turnovers, leaving a clear area to improve despite the comfortable victory.

Redick praised the decisions that kept the ball moving.

“We just consistently just did the right play, and the right play helped our teammates,” he said.

Dončić scored 21 points in 16 minutes, while rookie Cameron Carr added 19. Grimes contributed 16 points, giving the Lakers production from several players as Redick evaluated different combinations.

That distribution matters for a roster built around Dončić. When teammates recognize an opening and act quickly, the offense can capitalize before the defense recovers.

The challenge is carrying that approach into less favorable shooting nights. Extra passes are valuable when they create a better attempt, but players also must recognize when the available shot is already the right one.

Monday provided encouraging evidence of a group willing to make those decisions together. Repeating that execution while reducing its own turnovers would give L.A. a stronger foundation as preseason continues.