Warriors turn out in force, beat shorthanded Lakers in first preseason game

The Golden State Warriors opened their preseason on “Nellie Night” with a dominant performance against the Los Angeles Lakers, prevailing in a blowout that underscored a simple preseason truth. Early results can look like meaning, but the league treats them as preparation first. Still, Golden State took care of the business expected of a deeper, healthier roster, even if the opponent was missing several prominent pieces.

Los Angeles entered the matchup without its three core names cited in the game report, Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler. With those players unavailable, the Lakers had a different look than the one they would prefer to lean on when meaningful games start. For the Warriors, that created an opportunity to test combinations, pace, and spacing while also emphasizing execution on both ends.

Steph Curry was part of the night’s headline narrative. The report framed his presence as a reminder that even in preseason, a team’s standards should not disappear. Curry’s role in the game, along with Golden State’s overall control, was part of why the contest turned into the kind of mismatch preseason coaches try to avoid letting happen, even when experimenting with lineups.

Golden State’s control showed up in the overall feel described as a blowout, meaning the Warriors were able to sustain offensive pressure and defensive stops long enough to pull away. Preseason matchups often swing quickly based on rotations and shot quality, but this one stayed tilted toward the Warriors, which is the key takeaway from the early box-score profile even without full statistical detail in the available account.

For the Lakers, the result functions less as a scoreboard lesson and more as a roster and roles exercise. With three key players on the sideline for this specific game, Los Angeles had to lean on other contributors and early rotation options to see who can handle expanded minutes and decision-making responsibilities. In preseason, that matters because role clarity typically has to be built before cuts and before the team’s offensive and defensive identities fully harden.

For Golden State, a comfortable preseason win can be useful even when coaches downplay the standings angle. It can validate that the team can still defend possessions with communication and effort during the first stretch of the exhibition calendar, and it can also help establish confidence for the bench group that follows star-driven sequences. The broader importance is what the Warriors do next, as preseason games are often where continuity is earned, not where it is judged.