The Los Angeles Lakers begin their 2026-27 NBA campaign at home against the Denver Nuggets on October 16, concluding a preseason slate where they split two games with the Golden State Warriors. Their final tune-up was a 101-89 loss to the Warriors on October 13. This comes as the Warriors' star forward, Jimmy Butler, continues his lengthy recovery from a torn ACL suffered last January.
Jimmy Butler is working his way back from a significant right knee injury. The Golden State Warriors forward tore his ACL on January 19, 2026, during a regular-season game against his former team, the Miami Heat. Before the injury, Butler was averaging 21 points, five rebounds and five assists per game. ESPN's Anthony Slater reported that Butler could return to action between January and February 2027. He has started individual on-court work but still faces several rehabilitation milestones before being cleared for full contact. Butler has remained optimistic about his recovery process.
The Lakers had a mixed bag of results in their exhibition games. They opened their preseason schedule with a strong 127-103 victory over the Sacramento Kings on October 5. Two days later, they fell to the Golden State Warriors 124-98 on October 6. The team bounced back to edge the Kings 114-110 on October 8 before closing the preseason with that 101-89 loss to the Warriors on October 13. These games provided the coaching staff with valuable evaluation time for rotations and player conditioning ahead of the real games.
The focus now shifts entirely to the regular season. The Lakers' first official test is a major one, hosting the defending champion Denver Nuggets on October 16. This opening-night matchup sets an immediate tone for the Western Conference race. Following that, the team will look to build consistency through a tough early schedule. Fans can track the team's upcoming challenges on our schedule page. The absence of a player like Jimmy Butler on the opposing Warriors roster for their season opener could have been a factor, but the Lakers' own health and execution will be the primary concern moving forward.
