The Lakers unveiled what could be their starting lineup when the regular season starts next week ahead of their preseason finale on Friday night.
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 at Crypto.com Arena.
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.
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.
But the aforementioned lineup could start when the Lakers host the Warriors on Wednesday.
“I know that there’s a chance Quentin is gonna have an opportunity to start,” Redick said.
“This [lineup] was the original plan we were gonna have for the Sacramento game with Collin [Sexton] out. And we’ll see, we just wanna get a look on that [on Friday] and we’ll see. But nothing definitive for next week [against the Warriors].”
