Three Things to Watch for in Warriors' Preseason Matchup vs. Lakers

The Golden State Warriors did not get the start they wanted in Hawaii, but they get a quick chance to clean things up on Tuesday night.

Golden State lost 104-101 to the Clippers on Sunday at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, and now it hosts the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center at 7 p.m. PT in its home preseason opener.

Preseason results do not count, but this team went 37-45 last season and finished 10th in the Western Conference, so good habits are worth building now.

The biggest problem on Sunday was the shooting.

The Warriors made just 6 of 33 three-point attempts and turned the ball over 16 times, and the Clippers won it on what NBC Sports Bay Area described as a step-back jumper with 12.8 seconds left.

Head coach Steve Kerr is moving to a five-out offense this season, which puts all five players around the three-point line, and forward Draymond Green has been told to run the floor instead of trailing the play.

A system like that only works if the shots start falling, and the first preseason game showed how much work is still left on that end.

Forward Yaxel Lendeborg, the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft out of Michigan, started on Sunday and finished with four points, nine rebounds and three assists in 19 minutes.

He shot just 1 of 6 from the field, and Kerr wants the rookie to look for his own scoring more often, which has quickly become the main thing to fix in his game.

Point guard Stephen Curry, who scored 10 points in 13 minutes on Sunday, pushed the same idea after the game.

"But we don't want anything passive, and I think he's been answering that call early. You saw the first possession him taking a shot when he's open," Curry said, per NBC Sports Bay Area.

Lendeborg was the Summer League MVP, so the talent is there, and if he keeps attacking, Golden State will have a real answer at forward.

The Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings 127-103 on Monday, as guard Luka Dončić scored 21 points in 16 minutes and the team made 20 of 44 threes.

Guard Austin Reaves sat with a tweaked ankle and center Walker Kessler sat with a jammed finger, but Lakers coach JJ Redick said both were fine and that the players who were out may play on Tuesday.

That would give the Golden State defense a much tougher test.

The Warriors will still be short-handed, since forward Jimmy Butler is recovering from ACL surgery and center Kristaps Porziņģis is out indefinitely with a health issue the team has kept private, which is why the club is being patient with him.

Guard Brandon Williams gave the bench a lift with 11 points on Sunday, and Kerr said the Warriors have not had anybody like him since he got to Golden State, pointing to his speed with the ball.

The Warriors play at Portland on Wednesday, and the two teams meet again on Oct. 13 in Las Vegas before the regular season opens on Oct. 21 at the Lakers.