Los Angeles Lakers vs Sacramento Kings — NBA Preseason, October 5, 2026

Golden 1 Center, Sacramento — Monday, October 5, 2026

A new version of the Los Angeles Lakers was about to get its first meaningful look on October 5, with Luka Dončić taking over as the central figure of an offense that no longer includes LeBron James. The preseason opener against Sacramento was therefore less about the exhibition record and more about how quickly JJ Redick could connect a heavily remodeled supporting cast around Dončić. NBA.com’s pregame coverage highlighted the scale of that transition: Los Angeles entered the new campaign with eight offseason additions, including Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton and Jaden Hardy. The Kings offered a useful first test because Sacramento had also changed its structure and was coming off an injury-hit 2025-26 campaign. Their own preseason story centered on a younger group, including seventh overall pick Darius Acuff Jr., alongside established players such as Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine.

The tactical question for Los Angeles was straightforward but important: how much offensive responsibility should remain in Dončić’s hands when the roster has been deliberately built to give him more reliable options? Redick had specifically pointed to Kessler as a strong fit beside Dončić and Austin Reaves, while the additions of Grimes, Sexton and Hardy gave the Lakers additional perimeter creation and shooting possibilities. Kessler’s rim protection also offered a different defensive dimension from the frontcourt personnel Los Angeles had moved on from during the summer. Sacramento presented another kind of challenge. With Acuff Jr. entering his first NBA season and the Kings looking to establish a new balance around Sabonis, the matchup provided an early opportunity to see whether their young perimeter talent could function alongside a traditional offensive hub.

🩺 Confirmed Medical Report

Los Angeles Lakers — Officially Reported Availability
Out / Ruled Out	Austin Reaves	Ankle issue; unavailable for the preseason opener
Out / Ruled Out	Walker Kessler	Jammed finger; ruled out for the preseason opener
Out / Ruled Out	Collin Sexton	Day-to-day issue; ruled out for the preseason opener
Out / Ruled Out	Arthur Kaluma	Unavailable for the preseason opener

Sacramento Kings — Officially Reported Availability
Out / Ruled Out	Malik Monk	Rest; unavailable for the preseason opener

The injury picture changed the opening-night experiment considerably. Los Angeles was without Reaves and Kessler, two players expected to occupy major roles in the new structure, while Sexton and Kaluma were also unavailable. The pregame report described Kessler’s problem as a jammed finger and indicated that Reaves had tweaked his ankle; NBA.com’s fantasy-news feed also listed Kessler, Reaves and Sexton as unavailable for Monday. None of those players should be classified as long-term or IR cases on the evidence available at the time, so no long-term row has been invented here. Sacramento’s Malik Monk was officially listed as unavailable because of rest rather than an injury, while Ben Simmons was expected to be handled cautiously without an injury being reported.

🔵 Official Opening Lineups & Key Personnel

Los Angeles Lakers — Confirmed Starting Five
Starting lineup	Luka Dončić	Point guard
Starting lineup	Matisse Thybulle	Shooting guard
Starting lineup	Quentin Grimes	Small forward
Starting lineup	Ziaire Williams	Power forward
Starting lineup	Kevon Looney	Center
Key personnel	JJ Redick	Head coach
Key personnel	Luka Dončić	Primary offensive creator
Key personnel	Quentin Grimes	New perimeter option and defensive wing

Sacramento Kings — Confirmed Starting Five
Starting lineup	Darius Acuff Jr.	Point guard
Starting lineup	Zach LaVine	Shooting guard
Starting lineup	De’Andre Hunter	Small forward
Starting lineup	Precious Achiuwa	Power forward
Starting lineup	Domantas Sabonis	Center
Key personnel	Doug Christie	Head coach
Key personnel	Domantas Sabonis	Interior hub and playmaking big
Key personnel	Darius Acuff Jr.	No. 7 pick and young lead-guard prospect

With Reaves and Kessler unavailable, Redick’s confirmed group placed even more responsibility on Dončić while giving Grimes an immediate opportunity to show why Los Angeles targeted him during the offseason. Thybulle supplied a defense-first presence next to the ball-dominant lead guard, while Williams and Looney gave the opening unit additional size. Sacramento’s first five put Acuff Jr. directly into the starting backcourt alongside LaVine, with Sabonis providing the experienced offensive connector in the middle. The combination was particularly interesting because Monk was resting and Simmons was being brought along cautiously, leaving the Kings to examine a less familiar perimeter arrangement from the outset.

⭐ The Pregame Storyline in Sacramento

• Los Angeles was beginning a post-LeBron era: Dončić was now the centerpiece, with James having moved to Philadelphia during the offseason. NBA.com described the matchup as the beginning of a new chapter for the Lakers.
• The supporting cast was the experiment: Kessler, Mamukelashvili, Grimes, Sexton and Hardy were among the offseason additions Redick needed to integrate around Dončić and Reaves.
• Sacramento had its own reset underway: NBA.com framed the Kings’ preseason as a fresh start after an injury-riddled previous season, with Acuff Jr. one of the main reasons for optimism.
• The opening rotations were already affected: Reaves, Kessler, Sexton and Kaluma were unavailable for Los Angeles, while Monk was resting for Sacramento.

The press discussion before the opening tip was therefore centered on construction rather than consequence. NBA.com’s framing emphasized the Lakers’ new supporting cast and the chance to see Dončić begin operating within Redick’s redesigned group, while Sacramento’s outlook was tied to recovery from last season’s injuries and the arrival of Acuff Jr. The absence of several Lakers players made the opener less representative of the eventual regular-season rotation, but it also created immediate opportunities for players such as Grimes and Thybulle. On the Kings’ side, the absence of Monk and cautious handling of Simmons made Acuff Jr.’s role particularly noteworthy. Neither team needed to reveal a finished identity in an exhibition opener; the useful information would come from spacing around the primary creators, how the bigs handled defensive coverage, and which secondary players looked comfortable when possessions became less scripted.

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