Golden State Warriors defeated Los Angeles Lakers 124-98 in an NBA preseason basketball game in San Francisco on Tuesday morning.
Los Angeles entered the game with an alternative squad, choosing to rest several key starting players including Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Golden State fielded a stronger lineup that featured marquee stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
The National Basketball Association preseason offers franchises an opportunity to test tactical setups, evaluate young talent, and build physical conditioning ahead of the 82-game regular season campaign. Both Golden State, based in San Francisco, and Los Angeles compete in the Pacific Division of the NBA's Western Conference. Golden State has established itself as one of the league's dominant teams over the past decade, while Los Angeles holds a storied history as one of the most successful franchises in American sports.
Golden State asserted complete dominance from the opening tip. The San Francisco team established a 14-point cushion by the end of the first quarter and continued to expand their advantage throughout the second period. By doubling their lead before the half-time buzzer, Golden State went into the break leading 81-53 with a 28-point gap.
Second half performance and top scorers
Los Angeles attempted a rally after the interval, managing to reduce the point deficit during the third quarter. However, Golden State regained total control of the tempo in the fourth quarter to close out the 26-point victory at 124-98.
Forward Yaxel Lendeborg emerged as the top scorer of the match for Golden State, finishing with 17 points and nine rebounds off the stat sheet. Curry and Brandin Podziemski provided further offensive support for the host team, scoring 16 points each. Sandro Mamukelashvili stood out as the leading performer for Los Angeles, scoring 15 points in the defeat.
Curry, widely regarded as one of the greatest shooters in basketball history, forms the core of Golden State alongside Green, a veteran forward renowned for his defensive impact and court vision. Doncic is a multi-time All-Star guard who functions as the primary offensive orchestrator for Los Angeles, while Reaves has developed into a reliable starting guard in their backcourt rotation.
Upcoming NBA preseason schedule
Golden State returns to the court quickly on Wednesday, October 7, taking on the Portland Trail Blazers at 11:00 p.m. Brasília time.
Los Angeles plays their next preseason fixture on Thursday, October 8, when they face the Sacramento Kings at 8:30 p.m. Brasília time. Both contests form part of the final preparations before the 2026-27 NBA regular season officially begins on October 20.
