Lakers Open Preseason in Sacramento With Dončić's Return in Focus

Luka Dončić's return to live action gives the Lakers the edge in a preseason opener full of unknowns.

LAL @ SAC Oct 6, 2026 at 2:00 AM UTC

The wait ends Monday night at Golden 1 Center, where the Lakers and Kings open their preseason schedules. It is the first game action for both teams, so expect uneven rotations and rough edges. The biggest storyline is Luka Dončić, who is set to play in his first live action since the hamstring injury that ended his last postseason. Coach JJ Redick has said Dončić will play in preseason games, and how he looks next to Kessler is one of the key things to watch.

The Lakers are also sorting out new pieces. Kessler, Looney and Thybulle are new to the rotation, and this is their first chance to be tested together. The Dončić-Austin Reaves pairing is another open question. The Lakers are rebuilding their offense around the two, yet Redick's willingness to play them together has been questioned. If he staggers them, the offense will lean on whichever star is running the show, and that could shape how smoothly the new additions fit.

Workload will limit how much anyone can read into this one. It is the front end of a back-to-back and the first of three games in four days, so the Lakers' starters will likely play limited minutes and the roster will be incomplete. That helps Sacramento, which has home court and a debut of its own. Rookie Darius Acuff Jr., the seventh overall pick, makes his unofficial NBA debut and gets his first real test against a Lakers group that is still finding its rotation.

I expect the Lakers to win a sloppy, minutes-managed game. Dončić's playmaking should give them enough in his stretches, and the new additions only need to fit passably. Sacramento will keep it close at home, but the Lakers' top-end talent gives them a slight edge. Lakers 114, Kings 109.

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