Sandro Mamukelashvili has played a lot of center for the Lakers in preseason: "Wherever you put me, I'll try to do my best." Next to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, his job is spacing the floor, hitting 3s and pushing the ball, "'cause a lot of times Luka and Austin are denied."
Dalton Knecht and Cameron Carr were ruled out of the Lakers' Oct. 8 preseason game with concussions after both "got hit," JJ Redick said. Collin Sexton was held out. Walker Kessler was too, after hitting his fingers on the backboard: "it's not concerning. He'll play preseason."
Austin Reaves was set for his first Lakers game alongside Luka Doncic this year on Oct. 8: "he's ready to go," JJ Redick said. Ziaire Williams sat again with soreness, "not anything that we're concerned about." Adou Thiero was available but knows he has to defend to play.
Darius Acuff Jr. won't always have to handle the ball, Kings coach Doug Christie said. More ball handlers let him attack once the ball swings to the other side: "Now you can get him on second sides with a live dribble, and that changes the game."
Nique Clifford is "not a point guard," Kings coach Doug Christie said — he's a secondary ball handler who can make plays in pick and roll, but his priority is to defend, rebound and communicate. Asked if Ben Simmons, Malik Monk and Keegan Murray play next, Christie didn't commit.
Nique Clifford ran more point guard in the Kings' preseason-opening loss to the Lakers, with Ben Simmons and Malik Monk out. He said he'd played point one day in camp, called too many plays and needs to attack off the dribble more: "it's a learning process."