LOS ANGELES — Oct. 12, 2025 — The Los Angeles Lakers earned their first victory of the preseason on Sunday night, defeating the Golden State Warriors 126-116 at Crypto.com Arena in the third contest of a six-game exhibition schedule.
Both teams left several marquee names on the bench. LeBron James and Stephen Curry joined a wider list of absentees that also included Luka Doncic, Marcus Smart and Jimmy Butler. Despite the shortened rotations, Los Angeles controlled the matchup from the opening tip.
Reaves Sets the Tone
Guard Austin Reaves opened the game with five quick points and finished the first half with 18. His scoring burst, paired with early production from center Deandre Ayton and forward Rui Hachimura, pushed the Lakers to a 30-24 edge after one quarter.
Reaves added five more points to start the second period, helping stretch the lead to 21. He drew a foul on a buzzer-beating three-point attempt and converted all three free throws, sending Los Angeles into the locker room ahead 63-46.
Momentum Shifts After Halftime
Reaves continued to score after the break but exited midway through the third quarter after bumping knees and turning an ankle. Golden State capitalized, trimming the deficit to 90-85 behind a hot stretch from Brandin Podziemski.
Forwards Jake LaRavia and rookie Dalton Knecht steadied the Lakers with timely baskets, and reserve center Jaxson Hayes finished an alley-oop from Bronny James to open the fourth quarter. James kept attacking the rim, pushing the margin back to double digits.
Bench Closes It Out
Exhibit 10 signees RJ Davis and Nate Williams, along with two-way guard Nick Smith Jr., handled the closing minutes. Their combined energy preserved the 10-point win and moved Los Angeles to 1-2 in preseason play.
What’s Next
The Lakers complete the preseason with three games this week: Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns in Phoenix, Wednesday versus the Dallas Mavericks in Las Vegas, and Friday’s finale at home against the Sacramento Kings.
Source: Lakers Nation
