Lakers guard Austin Reaves gets to the basket for a layup during the first half of a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Golden State Warriors guard Will Richard, left, and Lakers center Walker Kessler talk after their preseason game on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Lakers guard Jaden Hardy (7) drives the ball against Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry (30) looks on during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Lakers Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Lakers guard Chris Manon (30) handles the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Brandon Williams (12) during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II (0) shoots against Lakers forward Kevon Looney during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Golden State Warriors guard De’anthony Melton (8) chases down the ball in the backcourt during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Lakers Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Lakers forward Arthur Kaluma (47) drives the ball against Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr calls to his team during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Lakers Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry (30) drives against Lakers forward Jake LaRavia, (12), and guard Quentin Grimes (5) during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) shoots against Golden State Warriors forward Graham Ike during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg (1) attempts to shoot around Lakers forward Kevon Looney (55) during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Lakers forward Jake LaRavia (12) drives to the basket against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Golden State Warriors guard Brandon Williams (12) handes the ball against Lakers forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry (30) looks to pass the ball against Lakers forward Jake LaRavia, left, guard Quentin Grimes (5) and forward Kevon Looney (55) during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Lakers guard Bronny James (9) looks on during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Golden State Warriors guard Dalen Terry (21) looks to shoot against Lakers guard Jaden Hardy (7) during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Lakers forward Rafael Castro (18) goes to dunk the ball against the Golden State Warriors during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Golden State Warriors guard Brandon Williams (12) drives the ball against Lakers guard Chris Manon (30) during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Lakers center Walker Kessler, right, and Golden State Warriors center Charles Bassey reach for a loose ball during the first half of a preseason game on Tuesday night in Las Vegas. Kessler had 11 points, nine rebounds, one blocked shot and one steal in 15 minutes in a 101-89 loss. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry looks on during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Lakers Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) drives to the basket against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Golden State Warriors guard Will Richard (3) shoots against the Lakers during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Lakers head coach JJ Redick directs his team during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos chases down the ball during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Lakers Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Lakers guard Quentin Grimes (5) brings the ball up court against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg (1) reacts after being folded during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Lakers Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Lakers guard Jaden Hardy (7) drives the ball against Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Golden State Warriors forward Georges Niang (32) and guard Brandon Williams (12) reach for a rebound against the Lakers during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Lakers guard Quentin Grimes (5) drives to the basket against Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) handles the ball against the Lakers during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Lakers guard Bronny James (9) looks on during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Golden State Warriors center Charles Bassey (28) takes a shot against the Lakers during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Lakers center Walker Kessler warms up before a preseason NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Lakers center Walker Kessler warms up before a preseason NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Players’ hands reach for the ball during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game between the Lakers and the Golden State Warriors Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
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Lakers guard Austin Reaves gets to the basket for a layup during the first half of a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Prized Lakers offseason acquisition Walker Kessler made his preseason debut on Tuesday night, contributing 11 points, nine rebounds, one blocked shot and one steal in 15 minutes during a 101-89 loss to the Golden State Warriors at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Kessler, who the Lakers acquired in a sign-and-trade deal with the Utah Jazz this summer and subsequently signed to a four-year, $130 million contract to be their franchise center, sat out the three previous preseason games after jamming his pinky finger against the backboard during a practice.
The 7-foot-2 center posted a team-high plus-15 rating before sitting out the second half of the team’s penultimate preseason game, which saw the Lakers squander a 20-point lead and turn the ball over 30 times in their second exhibition loss to the Warriors this month.
Outside of Kessler’s debut, star guard Austin Reaves led the way for the Lakers, finishing with 28 points (10-for-18 shooting), seven assists (and seven turnovers) and four rebounds in 25 minutes. Forward/center Sandro Mamukelashvili added 10 points and seven rebounds, showcasing solid playmaking skills during his 21 minutes.
Luka Doncic, however, didn’t play Tuesday, with Lakers coach JJ Redick telling reporters before the game that it was a planned off day for the Slovenian star and specified that the NBA’s leading scorer last season is not injured. Doncic still went through pregame warmups Tuesday.
Two-way contract player Arthur Kaluma made his preseason debut after missing the first three games with an undisclosed lower-body injury. Center Rafael Castro – who the Lakers signed to an exhibit-10 contract for the final two games of the preseason, waiving former training camp signing William Kyle III to make room for the big man who was previously signed to a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets – also played against the Warriors.
Forward Ziaire Williams (foot contusion), guard Collin Sexton (lower-leg injury), wing Adou Thiero (undisclosed) and rookie guard Cameron Carr (undisclosed) are all day-to-day after the Lakers ruled them out before the game, Redick said.
Sexton, who signed a two-year, $19 million contract with the Lakers this offseason, has yet to play in the preseason.
Rookie forward Yaxel Landeborg led the Warriors in scoring with 17 points, but he exited in the third quarter after twisting his ankle.
The Lakers close their preseason slate on Friday night at home against the Denver Nuggets (7:30 p.m.) before turning their attention to next Wednesday when they host the Warriors in their season opener at 7 p.m.