The 2025 NBA preseason is officially underway, and the first few games are already giving us a taste of what to expect this season.
Today, we got two major matchups: Lakers vs Warriors and Hornets vs Thunder. Both games were high-energy, fast-paced, and showcased the depth of some of the league’s top teams — even in preseason form.
Warriors 111 – 103 Lakers
Golden State Warriors pulled off a solid 111-103 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, continuing the Lakers’ tough start to the preseason. Moses Moody led all scorers for the Warriors with 19 points, while the team’s big three — Steph Curry (14), Jimmy Butler (9), and Draymond Green (2) — all contributed. Jonathan Kuminga added 5, and Brandin Podzeimski chipped in 8, giving Golden State a balanced offensive attack. Off the bench, Buddy Hield (11) and Pat Spencer (12) provided some instant spark to keep the Warriors ahead.
The Lakers were missing LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Marcus Smart, and Austin Reaves due to injuries or rest. Despite the absence of stars, LA had some bright spots. Gabe Vincent led the team with 16 points, while new addition Jake LaRavia added 10 and Jared Vanderbilt contributed 9. Deandre Ayton, the new starting center, posted 7 points and rebounds, showing early signs of adjusting to his role. The bench rotation also delivered, with RJ Davis (11) and Nick Smith Jr. (9) combining for 20 points, and second-year player Dalton Klepfer contributing 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists in 34 minutes. Bronny James chipped in 5 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists off the bench, showing glimpses of his potential.
The Lakers now start the preseason 0-2, after a tough loss to the Suns a few days ago. While this is early and most key players are resting or injured, the Warriors’ depth, chemistry, and fully healthy roster made a clear statement about what LA will have to handle when the regular season begins.
Thunder 135 – 114 Hornets
Next up, the Thunder cruised past the Hornets 135-114, showing off their championship DNA from last season — even without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Duren playing.
For the Hornets, it was a mixed bag. Miles Bridges scored 7 points with 8 rebounds, while rookie Kon Knueppel led the team with 18 points, highlighting the young core’s potential. Ousmane Dieng added 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, and Brandon Miller contributed 8 points. Other contributions included Dew Peterson and Liam McNeeley combining for 9 points, with Ryan Kalkbrenner, KJ Simpson, and Collin Sexton each posting 10+ off the bench. Despite some solid individual performances, the Hornets couldn’t match the Thunder’s depth.
The Thunder’s team-wide effort was impressive. Aaron Wiggins led all scorers with 23 points and 6 assists, Jaylin Williams added 17, Nikola Topic scored 10, and Isiash Joe contributed 7 points. Malevy Leons had 11 points and rebounds, Jazian Gortman added 15, and Chris Youngblood dropped 20 points off the bench. Even without their stars, the Thunder looked organized, aggressive, and far ahead of most preseason teams.
These two games are early indicators that depth, chemistry, and healthy rotations will play a huge role this season. The Warriors and Thunder are sending clear messages to the rest of the league — they’re ready to compete at the highest level, and even without some of their key pieces, they can dominate. The Lakers and Hornets, meanwhile, have work to do, but there are positives to build on as the regular season nears.
Key Takeaways from Preseason Game 2
Warriors’ Depth is Insane: Every player contributed offensively, and even the bench scored efficiently. Moses Moody is looking like a player to watch.
Lakers Missing Stars Hurts
Without LeBron, Luka, and others, the Lakers struggled to keep up. Young guys like Ayton, LaRavia, and Klepfer showed promise.
Thunder Show Championship DNA
Even without stars, team cohesion and bench scoring made them unstoppable against the Hornets.
Hornets’ Young Core Shines in Spots
Kon Knueppel and Dieng looked good individually, but they need more consistency as a team.
