The Aporia · Lakers reveal potential starting lineup with surprising twist in preseason finale

Lakers reveal potential starting lineup with surprising twist in preseason finale

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APA MLA Chicago

Price, K. (2026, October 17). Lakers reveal potential starting lineup with surprising twist in preseason finale. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2026/10/16/sports/lakers-reveal-potential-starting-lineup-with-surprising-twist/

Dated from the outlet's own feed. Check the original for its byline.

Quick Summary

The Lakers revealed their potential starting lineup in the preseason finale against the Nuggets, featuring Matisse Thybulle as an unexpected starter alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, and Ziaire Williams. While coach JJ Redick confirmed Quentin Grimes will also start games during the regular season, there is still uncertainty about whether this lineup will play when the Lakers face the Warriors in their opening game next week.

Written by AI on 2026-10-17, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

The Los Angeles Lakers revealed their potential starting lineup in the preseason finale on Friday night, featuring a surprising twist. The team started Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena. Doncic, Reaves, and Kessler, who are collectively known as the "Big 3" and are the three highest-paid players on the team, were already confirmed starters before Friday's game. The inclusion of Thybulle over Quentin Grimes was unexpected but clarified by coach JJ Redick that Grimes will still start in regular-season games.

In their preseason debut against the Nuggets, Walker Kessler experienced "growing pains," finishing with six points on 2-for-8 shooting, while facing Nikola Jokic, who had an impressive performance. Despite the rust evident from his limited playing time last season due to shoulder surgery, Kessler showed promise in previous games but struggled against a high-caliber opponent like Jokic.

The Lakers' Big 3 demonstrated potential but also highlighted areas needing improvement as they face adjustments and lack of practice together before the regular season begins.

Written for “Lakers Preseason Performance” on 2026-11-04, grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 22% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

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Hedges 1 of 13 claims Outlet record 66/100

“Article A discusses trade rumors for Lakers players as Opening Night approaches, while Article B reports on a potential starting lineup revealed during the preseason finale.”

Lakers must improve these areas before preseason ends: ‘It’ll calm down’ Different event

New York Post

Hedges 2 of 24 claims Outlet record 66/100

“The articles discuss different aspects of the Lakers' preparations for their upcoming season; Article A focuses on the challenges and concerns, while Article B reveals a potential starting lineup.”

Lakers experience ‘growing pains’ in first look with Big 3 Same event

New York Post

Hedges 1 of 21 claims Outlet record 66/100

Lakers play numbers game as roster crunch comes back into focus Different event

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Hedges 2 of 17 claims Outlet record 66/100

“While both articles refer to the Lakers' preseason activities around the same time frame, Article A focuses on roster crunch issues, while Article B discusses potential starting lineup decisions.”

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted

sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

22%

2 of 9 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

not political

takes no side on a contested political question

Publisher signals

66/100

New York Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

Outlets on this story

Sports

Same framing elsewhere

articles that frame the event the way this one does

Who wrote this

Khobi Price

65 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 Luka Dončić, who had already scored 41 points by that point, had been out of the game for 45 seconds, with the Lakers and Redick believing the end-of-bench players would put the finishing touches on securing the victory.

2026-11-02 · assertive framing · JJ Redick sends strong warning to Lakers bench after pathetic 60-second span

🔮 The questions the Lakers had to face as they returned to Southern California after a one-game trip to the Bay Area revolved around how this new group would respond to early-season adversity.

2026-11-02 · assertive framing · Lakers nearly blow another lead — but Luka’s heroics were enough for win

🔮 The early-season success might’ve masked the reality of where the Lakers are at in their team-building journey.

2026-11-01 · assertive framing · Importance of patience being reinforced for Lakers early in season after 25-point collapse

🔮 Each week, the California Post will power rank the NBA’s 30 teams.

2026-10-31 · assertive framing · LeBron’s 76ers, Grizzlies continue to impress in Post’s NBA Power Rankings

🔮 The game couldn’t have started better for the Lakers, who were fueled by a signature Luka Doncic scoring early scoring flurry Friday night in Chase Center.

2026-10-31 · assertive framing · Lakers blow 25-point lead NBA Cup-opening loss to Warriors

🔮 The Lakers will be without one of their starting wings when they kick off NBA Cup Group Play action against the Warriors on Friday night at Chase Center.

2026-10-30 · assertive framing · Lakers starter missing second straight game, out vs Warriors

🔮 It’s unlikely Doncic and Reaves will come even close to being the highest-scoring duo in a season.

2026-10-30 · assertive framing · Five numbers that explain the Lakers’ explosive start — and biggest flaw

🔮 When the Lakers would need to play or rely on players they normally don’t, for whatever the circumstances it may be for that given game. And against the Clippers, which was the second night of the back-to-back set after Tuesday’s home loss to the Trail Blazers, the circumstances were being without superstar guard Luka Doncic (back tightness) and Ziaire Williams (left foot soreness).

2026-10-29 · assertive framing · Luka Doncic-less Lakers get back on track with win over Clippers

🔮 And he would’ve liked to return to the franchise.

2026-10-28 · assertive framing · Clippers’ Rui Hachimura dishes about ‘tough’ Lakers exit

🔮 The Lakers couldn’t stop Portland from anywhere on the court: The Blazers shot 59% from the field and 50% on 3s.

2026-10-28 · assertive framing · Luka Doncic’s 41-point masterpiece not enough as Lakers fall to Trail Blazers

Also by Khobi Price

Luka Dončić continues historic start to season in Lakers’ win over Heat

2026-11-03 · New York Post

Luka Dončić continues to achieve Lakers feats not seen since Kobe Bryant

2026-11-03 · New York Post

JJ Redick sends strong warning to Lakers bench after pathetic 60-second span

2026-11-02 · New York Post

Lakers nearly blow another lead — but Luka’s heroics were enough for win

2026-11-02 · New York Post

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 65 articles by Khobi Price →

Claims (9 extracted, 2 hedged)

The Lakers unveiled what could be their starting lineup when the regular season starts next week ahead of their preseason finale on Friday night. uncertain

season → unveil → night

And the first unit featured a surprising twist. asserted

unit → feature → twist

The Lakers started Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler against the Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena. asserted

Lakers → start → Arena

Doncic, Reaves and Kessler – the Lakers’ “Big 3” and three-highest paid players – were already known to be confirmed starters before Friday. Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn California Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X California Post Opinion California Post Newsletters: Sign up here! California Post App: Download here! Home delivery: Sign up here! asserted

Doncic → pay → newsletters

Williams, who returned to the lineup after missing the previous three exhibitions, was also expected to start. asserted

who → return → exhibitions

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. uncertain

Lakers → make → Wednesday

“I know that there’s a chance Quentin is gonna have an opportunity to start,” Redick said. asserted

Redick → know → opportunity

“This [lineup] was the original plan we were gonna have for the Sacramento game with Collin [Sexton] out. asserted

we → go → Sexton

And we’ll see, we just wanna get a look on that [on Friday] and we’ll see. asserted

we → see → Friday

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Articles to 4 Nov 2026

Lakers reveal potential starting lineup with surprising twist in preseason finale

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Claims (9 extracted, 2 hedged)