After a long offseason, the Lakers will return to the court to kick off their 2025-26 preseason on Friday. The purple and gold will host the Suns at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert in the opening game for both teams.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns

When: 7 p.m. PT, Oct. 3

Where: Acrisure Arena

Watch: NBA TV, Spectrum Sportsnet

While the Lakers will kick the season off on Friday, they certainly will not be at full strength. A host of injuries have already limited who they will trot out and more could be coming.

Head coach JJ Redick already revealed that LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Maxi Kleber and Adou Thiero all would not play. LeBron has a pain in his ass (literally) and Kleber suffered a quad injury that appears to be minor. Smart is expected to be

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