If this were a Broadway show, it could be said that the understudies stole the show.
The Golden State Warriors' starters were busy for 15 minutes Sunday night against the Los Angeles Lakers, and then took the rest of the night off.
Their backups played the rest of the way and preserved a 111-103 victory over the Lakers at the Chase Center.
Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, and Al Horford make brief appearances in the first half as the Warriors won their first preseason contest of the season.
Curry scored 14 points as he made 5-of-7 shots, including three 3-point field goals. He tallied 15 minutes. Butler scored nine points in the same duration. Green had one basket, five assists, and three rebounds.
Horford, making his Warriors' debut, added three points, three assists, four rebounds, and had three blocked shots in 14 minutes of work. He fit like a glove in the Warriors' starting lineup.
Jonathan Kuminga and Quinten Post were also paired with Horford up front. Kuminga had five points, six rebounds, and four assists. Post added seven points for Golden State.
Golden State led 62-55 at the halftime break and then let their bench take over. The Warriors used 18 players and were up by as many as 24 points in the fourth quarter.
The Warriors were paced by Moses Moody, who scored a team-high 19 points. He was also 5-of-7 from beyond the arc.
Coach Steve Kerr was like a mad scientist as he tinkered with the rotation, using different lineups and defenses. Whatever he touched turned to gold as the Warriors had 35 assists on 39 baskets. They also shot 39.5 percent from 3-point range.
Los Angeles opted to sit three of its stars as Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves did not see action. Likewise, for the Warriors, De'Anthony Melton and Alex Toohey missed the game due to injuries. Seth Curry did not play while he gets acclimated to the club.
The Lakers were led by Gabe Vincent, who finished with 16 points.
Golden State will continue their preseason Wednesday evening against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Chase Center.