Lonzo Ball, Lakers Beat Stephen Curry, Warriors in Preseason; LeBron James Rests
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors 119-105 on Friday night at SAP Center in San Jose, California.
Lonzo Ball finished with eight points, six rebounds and seven assists in 24 minutes, with LeBron James, Brandon Ingram and Rajon Rondo among the Lakers players taking the night off.
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 37 points in limited action.
Lonzo Ball Showing Progress with Reworked Jump Shot
In addition to his solid all-around production, Ball was 2-of-3 on three-pointers, which was the most encouraging aspect of his performance.
When he entered the NBA, Ball's unique shooting form raised questions about whether he could become a high-volume scorer. He proceeded to shoot 36.0 percent from the field and 30.5 percent from the perimeter as a rookie.
One preseason game doesn't prove Ball is a vastly better long-range shooter, but it's a step in the right direction. He spent part of his offseason tweaking his jumper to be a little less jarring, and that work is paying off.
With James joining the Lakers, the No. 2 overall pick in 2017 might have to adjust to life without the ball a little more. LeBron is bound to dominate possession when he's on the floor, so Ball will limit his role in the offense if he can't operate well playing off the four-time MVP.
James will create plenty of scoring opportunities for his teammates—Ball included. Based on Friday's game, the Lakers can feel comfortable rolling with James and Ball in the same lineup to open the 2018-19 season.
Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson Already in Midseason Form
Curry and Thompson only played 12 and 18 minutes, respectively, but they made them count. Curry was 5-of-10 for 16 points, while Thompson was 7-of-16 en route to a team-high 21 points.
Last year, the Warriors had stretches in which they went through the motions, knowing full well they were the strongest team in the league. At one point, head coach Steve Kerr let his players run things.
The gulf between Golden State and the rest of the NBA might have grown after the Houston Rockets failed to adequately replace Trevor Ariza, so keeping the team locked in mentally might prove even more difficult for Kerr.
The first half of Friday's game offered another example of how devastating the Warriors can be offensively. They scored 67 points and shot 47.9 percent heading into halftime. Golden State slowed down in the second half, when both Curry and Thompson exited the game and didn't return.
For the past two seasons, the Warriors followed their NBA championship with a defeat on opening night. They lost by 29 to the San Antonio Spurs to tip off 2016-17 and then suffered a one-point loss to the Rockets to get 2017-18 underway.
That trend is unlikely to continue for three years.
Svi Mykhailiuk Makes Most of Opportunity with Lakers Resting Stars
With so many experienced players unavailable, Friday was a great time for the Lakers' younger players to impress head coach Luke Walton and the rest of the coaching staff.
Svi Mykhailiuk capitalized on his chance, scoring a game-high 22 points.
At least early in the season, the Lakers are going to lean heavily on their experienced veterans. Playing time is likely to limited or even nonexistent for Mykhailiuk as Walton tries to fit Rondo, Lance Stephenson, Michael Beasley and JaVale McGee into his rotation.
Eventually, Mykhailiuk's time will come, be it this season or the next, when the Lakers once again retool their roster.
The 21-year-old doesn't need to be a star in order to become a valuable member of the Los Angeles roster. In the event the Lakers land another star or two to partner with James, having young cost-controlled players such as Mykhailiuk will be a massive luxury.
What's Next?
Friday's game brings an end to the preseason for both the Warriors and Lakers. Golden State opens the regular season Tuesday at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Los Angeles hits the road for a matchup Thursday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
