It is only preseason, and neither team took the games seriously, but the Los Angeles Lakers did beat the two-time defending champions Golden State Warriors twice in succession.
The final score in Portland was 119-105, and the fringe players played a starring role for the Lakers.
The Lakers were without numerous key players, as the likes of LeBron James and Rajon Rondo were rested. Brandon Ingram was nursing a quad injury, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has knee tendinitis and Josh Hart had a hamstring problem to deal with. Neither one of them will be out for long, and they will play in the season opener against Portland.
Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, and JaVale McGee played, and all of them notched up useful numbers. Michael Beasley and Lance Stephenson played minutes, but both of them were ejected in the second half.
Svi Mykhailuk was the top scorer for the Lakers with 22 points. Aside from him, Johnathan Williams, Isaac Bonga, and Travis Wear all reached double figures and got some useful playing time, something which will be hard to come by in the regular season.
Kevin Durant did not play for the Warriors, but their other stars did, albeit for limited minutes. Klay Thompson was their scoring leader with 21 points.
Although it is preseason, the signs are promising for the Lakers. The Warriors are still huge favourites to clinch their third consecutive title, but something might be cooking up in Los Angeles.
