Sacramento Kings vs Los Angeles Lakers

The Sacramento Kings will face the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, October 17, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. local time, marking the final preseason outing for both teams before the regular season begins. The matchup is expected to draw significant attention as both sides seek to finalize their rotations and evaluate roster depth following a busy offseason that introduced new coaching and tactical adjustments.

Heading into this game, both teams are dealing with a notable list of absences. Sacramento will be without Domantas Sabonis, who continues to recover from a hamstring strain, and forward Keegan Murray, sidelined after thumb surgery that will keep him out for several weeks. Guard Malik Monk is also unavailable due to illness. The Lakers, meanwhile, will rest LeBron James as he continues recovery from a back issue, while Bronny James, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Austin Reaves are all out for precautionary reasons. These absences open opportunities for younger players and bench contributors to step up, with Sacramento leaning more on newcomers like Russell Westbrook and Los Angeles turning to depth options such as Max Christie and Rui Hachimura.

On the tactical side, Lakers head coach JJ Redick is using this contest as a final tune-up before the season opener. His focus has been on implementing a more fluid offensive structure built around pace, spacing, and movement, emphasizing ball circulation through Luka Dončić and D’Angelo Russell. Defensively, the Lakers are experimenting with switching schemes to increase flexibility. Kings interim coach Doug Christie, facing a depleted frontcourt, is expected to utilize a smaller lineup, aiming to boost speed in transition and rely more on perimeter shooting. Without Sabonis anchoring the paint, Christie’s approach will likely prioritize quick ball movement and guard penetration.

The press has framed this matchup as a revealing test for both franchises. Lakers coverage has focused on the team’s attempt to blend new ideas under Redick while preserving its veteran leadership. Analysts in Sacramento have emphasized the challenge of maintaining competitiveness without two core starters, noting that this game will show how deep the Kings truly are. Most reports suggest that the Kings’ resilience and adaptability could make this a closer contest than the rosters might suggest, especially given the unpredictable nature of preseason basketball.

Studio analysts discussing the game have highlighted several key themes. They see this as a chance to evaluate how Dončić fits within Redick’s new offensive vision and how the Lakers’ supporting cast performs without LeBron. For the Kings, the emphasis is on chemistry and how quickly new additions integrate into Christie’s system. Analysts have suggested that Los Angeles holds a slight edge in overall talent and cohesion, but they caution that Sacramento’s energy and fast-paced style could create problems if the Lakers’ rotations remain unsettled. The general consensus is that, while the result itself may not matter much, the game offers important insights into the form, identity, and tactical readiness of both squads ahead of the new NBA season.