Lakers reveal potential starting lineup with surprising twist in preseason finale

The Lakers unveiled on Friday night what could be their starting lineup when the regular season starts next week.

And the first unit featured a surprising twist. 

The Lakers started Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler against the Nuggets for their preseason finale at Crypto.com Arena. 

Matisse Thybulle (26) could be in the starting lineup when the Lakers host the Warriors to kick off the regular season next week. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Walker Kessler #14 and Austin Reaves #15 were already known to be starters. NBAE via Getty Images

Doncic, Reaves and Kessler – the Lakers’ “Big 3” and three-highest paid players – were already known to be confirmed starters before Friday. 

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Williams, who returned to the lineup after missing the previous three exhibitions, was also expected to start.

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Thybulle’s inclusion over Quentin Grimes was the surprise, though coach JJ Redick made it clear Grimes will start games for the Lakers during the regular season. 

Grimes started in all four of the Lakers’ previous preseason games. He averaged 12.3 points on 53.3% shooting (41.2% on 3-pointers) in those exhibitions.

But Redick decided to go in a different direction, mentioning wanting to have lineup balance and Grimes operating as a ball-handler off of the bench in light of Collin Sexton being sidelined because of right lower leg injury.

“I’m still open to both,” Redick responded when asked about Grimes’ role as a starter vs. coming off of the bench. “You’re looking for balance in lineups and you’re looking for players that complement and fit each other. He’s gonna start a lot of games for us, that’s just the reality of it. I don’t know who our base starting group is yet,…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lakers-reveal-potential-starting-lineup-014351545.html

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Publish date : 2026-10-17 01:43:00

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