Lakers guard Austin Reaves gets to the basket for a layup in front of Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield, center, during the first half of their preseason game on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers forward LeBron James, left, passes the ball as Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, center, defends during the first half of their preseason game on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry drives the lane between Lakers forward LeBron James, left, and Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell during the second half of their preseason game on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers rookie guard Dalton Knecht (4) and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green fall to the court after Knecht fouled Green during the first half of their preseason game on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers star LeBron James handles the ball during their preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers guard Jalen Hood-Schifino, right, tries to steal the ball from Golden State Warriors center Quinten Post during the second half of their preseason game on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers star Anthony Davis shoots as Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody (4) defends during the first half of their preseason game on Tuesday night in Las Vegas. Davis had 24 points on 10-for-14 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds in 26 minutes in a 111-97 loss. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers star LeBron James handles the ball during their preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves grabs a rebound in front of the Golden State Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis during the first half of their preseason game on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves shoots during their preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers star LeBron James, left, and head coach JJ Redick talk during the first half of their preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry handles the ball during the second half of their preseason game against the Lakers on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
The Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga drives to the basket as Lakers star Anthony Davis defends during the first half of their preseason game on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James drives as Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins defends during the first half of their preseason game on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry looks to pass the ball behind Lakers forward LeBron James, left, during the first half of their preseason game on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Lakers star Anthony Davis handles the ball during their preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) grabs a rebound in front of Golden State Warriors forward Lindy Waters III (43) during the first half of their preseason game on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell handles the ball during their preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
The Golden State Warriors’ Moses Moody drives as Lakers guard Austin Reaves defends during the first half of their preseason game on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Lakers rookie guard Dalton Knecht gestures after making a 3-point shot during the second half of their preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers forward LeBron James grabs the ball in front of Golden State Warriors forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, right, during the first half of their preseason game on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Sparks forward Dearica Hamby, center, watches a preseason game between the Lakers and the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers star LeBron James handles the ball during their preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (22) shoots as Lakers center Colin Castleton (14) defends during the second half of their preseason game on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers star Anthony Davis handles the ball during their preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura drives as the Golden State Warriors’ Gary Payton II defends during the second half of their preseason game on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins gets to the basket for a layup during the second half of their preseason game against the Lakers on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht brings the ball up the court during the second half of their preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry mimics fans taking photos of his shoe after it came off during the first half of their preseason game against the Lakers on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell handles the ball during their preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura dunks in front of the Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins during the second half of their preseason game on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura runs back on the court after dunking during the second half of their preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Lakers guard Gabe Vincent shoots from the perimeter as Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield defends during the second half of their preseason game on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green handles the ball during the second half of their preseason game against the Lakers on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers forward Cam Reddish, front, looks to pass the ball as Golden State Warriors forward Kevon Looney defends during the second half of their preseason game on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Lakers rookie Bronny James drives to the basket as the Golden State Warriors’ Reece Beekman defends during the second half of their preseason game on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors’ Buddy Hield talks with head coach Steve Kerr as Hield comes off the court during the second half of their preseason game against the Lakers on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James, left, and rookie Bronny James, his son, warm up before a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James, left, and rookie Bronny James, his son, warm up before a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James, left, and rookie Bronny James, his son, warm up before a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James warms up before a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James, left, and rookie Bronny James, his son, warm up before a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers star LeBron James, left, and rookie Bronny James, his son, warm up before a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers head coach JJ Redick speaks to reporters before a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James, left, and rookie Bronny James, his son, warm up before a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers star LeBron James, left, and rookie Bronny James, his son, warm up before a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers head coach JJ Redick speaks to reporters before a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James, left, and rookie Bronny James, his son, warm up before a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers star LeBron James, left, and rookie Bronny James, his son, warm up before a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers star LeBron James, left, and rookie Bronny James, his son, warm up before a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers star LeBron James, left, and rookie Bronny James, his son, warm up before a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers star LeBron James tosses chalk into the air before their preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Lakers head coach JJ Redick speaks to reporters before a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Lakers guard Austin Reaves gets to the basket for a layup in front of Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield, center, during the first half of their preseason game on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
The Lakers’ 111-97 preseason loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night in Las Vegas offered the closest look at what their rotation could look like when the games begin to count in the standings.
Austin Reaves was back in the lineup after missing last Thursday’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks because of right ankle soreness, starting alongside what Coach JJ Redick has said will be the first unit (D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James and Anthony Davis) when the regular season begins next week.
But even with the starters playing more compared to previous exhibitions as they ramp up to what’s expected to be their normal load of minutes, the Lakers couldn’t keep up with the Warriors’ firepower – especially off the bench.
Golden State, which outscored the Lakers in each quarter, got 61 points from its reserves while the Lakers’ backups scored 33 – including 19 points from rookie Dalton Knecht on 6-of-15 shooting (5 for 13 from 3-point range).
Davis led the Lakers with 24 points (10-for-14 shooting) and 12 rebounds in 26 minutes, playing in the third quarter for the second consecutive game.
Hachimura (15 points, nine rebounds) started strong, scoring seven first-quarter points, but struggled with his shot, shooting 5 for 14 from the field.
Russell (six points on 2-of-10 shooting to go with seven rebounds) and James (six points on 3-of-9 shooting with four assists) also struggled with their shooting. James also played in the second half for the first time in the preseason, playing the opening stint of the third quarter before subbing out as part of the normal substitution pattern, finishing at 23 minutes.
Reaves, who was on a minutes restriction, scored 13 points on 3-of-8 shooting in 17 first-half minutes.
“Just a precaution,” Redick said before the game. “No issue from practice [on Monday].”
The Warriors were led by Moses Moody’s 21 points off the bench, which included a 5-of-7 effort from 3-point range. Four Golden State reserves scored in double figures.
Warriors star Steph Curry finished with 16 points, six assists and five rebounds in 28 minutes.
The Lakers have two preseason games left – Thursday night at the Phoenix Suns and a Friday night rematch with the Warriors in San Francisco – but if Tuesday was any indication, Max Christie, Gabe Vincent, Jaxson Hayes and Knecht will be part of the rotation when they open the regular season against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 22 at Crypto.com Arena.
Redick has said he envisions using a nine-man rotation, but seemed flexible when asked before Tuesday’s game.
“I’m not settling on that,” the first-time head coach said. “Yeah, I’ve envisioned it. Philosophically, I think you have to look at your team and figure out what works best. You also have to be cognizant, as we are, about the best player development and getting guys in games.
“So I’m not tied to a nine-man rotation. I don’t know what a rotation number looks like on Tuesday of next week. But generally, I think that a nine-man rotation works. But I don’t know if it works for our team.”
