Warriors Cruise Past Lakers 124-98 as Preseason Total Sails Over the Number

The Warriors dismantled the Lakers 124-98 at Chase Center, and our under 221.5 call got torched in the process. We banked on typical preseason lethargy and deep bench rotations grinding this game to a halt. Instead, Golden State came out firing like it was April, not October, pouring in 124 points and pushing the total to 222—just past our number.

The logic was sound: both rosters were decimated. Lakers rolled in without Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, and Arthur Kaluma. Warriors were missing Moses Moody and dealing with their own injury concerns. Camp bodies and 15-deep rotations should've meant sloppy possessions and a glacial pace. That's preseason basketball 101.

Except nobody told Golden State. They shot the lights out, moved the ball crisply, and treated this like a statement game. The Lakers, meanwhile, couldn't keep pace and looked every bit like a team missing key rotation pieces. When one squad decides to actually try in October and the other can't respond, you get blowouts that sneak over inflated totals.

Credit where it's due—the Warriors wanted this one. We got caught assuming both sides would sleepwalk through exhibition minutes. Sometimes preseason teams have other ideas. Tough miss, but we'll be back.