The Golden State Warriors' small-ball lineup faces a major size test against the Los Angeles Lakers tonight. Lakers center Walker Kessler is trending toward his preseason debut, while Warriors veteran Al Horford will not play. This comes after the Warriors beat the Lakers 101-89 in a preseason game on October 13.
Walker Kessler's potential return adds a 7-foot rim protector the Warriors did not expect to face. He missed the Lakers' first three preseason games with a jammed finger. His participation in Tuesday's morning shootaround provided a strong sign he could play. Kessler injured his finger early in training camp attempting to block a shot.
His shot-blocking and rebounding could challenge the Warriors' interior defense. Golden State has leaned on smaller lineups this preseason. The Lakers, with Kessler, could attack the paint and offensive glass more aggressively.
Steve Kerr confirmed Al Horford did not travel to Las Vegas. The veteran's absence is part of a regular workload management program. "Al will not make the trip," Kerr said. "That's just part of his regular kind of maintenance program."
With Horford out and Kristaps Porzingis also unavailable, the Warriors are thin up front. Kerr is leaning toward starting Draymond Green at center. The likely opening-night lineup features Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, Yaxel Lendeborg and Green. Kerr explained a bench role is more practical if Horford averages around 20 minutes per game.
Green's defensive versatility is key, but rebounding and rim protection become tougher in small lineups. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg's early rebounding has been a positive sign.
The Warriors' preseason has been a mixed bag. They opened with a 104-101 loss to the LA Clippers on October 4. They then beat the Lakers 124-98 on October 6 before falling 123-118 to Portland on October 7. A 111-106 win over Sacramento on October 10 preceded their most recent 101-89 victory over these same Lakers.
These games have tested their small-ball identity without traditional size. The results show potential but also highlight vulnerabilities teams can exploit.
After facing the Lakers, the Warriors' next preseason fixture is at home against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 16. It's another chance to refine their system before the regular season. Fans can track the team's full schedule on our schedule page.
The immediate focus is handling the Lakers' newfound size. Kessler's presence would force Golden State to execute their switching defense perfectly. It's an intriguing early test for a team betting heavily on speed and skill over traditional height.
