Lakers roll, Grizzlies win shootout as Washington’s future questioned — Pacific and Southwest roundup

Teams in the Pacific and Southwest divisions were busy yesterday, with convincing wins by the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies, while P.J. Washington’s future became a hot topic in Dallas.

Lakers: Doncic–Reaves era begins with a statement vs. Kings

The Los Angeles Lakers opened with a commanding 127-103 win over the Sacramento Kings, moving to 1-0 while Sacramento drops to 0-1. It comes on the eve of the first full season with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves running the backcourt, even as the perimeter rotation remains in flux. Minor preseason injuries have opened the door for role players to stake a claim, and this lopsided win gives the coaching staff a bit of breathing room to keep experimenting with combinations around their two primary ball-handlers.

Grizzlies: offensive fireworks in opening win

In the Southwest, the Memphis Grizzlies started their campaign with a 132-123 shootout victory over Atlanta, good for a 1-0 record. The result comes against the backdrop of broader conversations about rookie-scale extensions, with Memphis mentioned alongside Cleveland and Washington in analysis of young players whose extension windows are narrowing. For now, the on-court product takes center stage: a first win that puts Memphis on top of a division where every other team is still sitting at 0-0.

Suns, Kings and a Pacific Division still taking shape

The Phoenix Suns took a tight 109-107 loss in Detroit and open at 0-1 in a season where their starting five, like several contenders’ units around the league, will be scrutinized. The Kings, who recently made depth tweaks around their camp roster, also sit at 0-1 after being routed by the Lakers.

Elsewhere in the Pacific, the LA Clippers remain 1-0 after their preseason opener in Hawaii, a narrow win over the Golden State Warriors highlighted by strong outings from Rui Hachimura and Darius Garland but overshadowed by Max Strus’ ankle injury. The Warriors sit at 0-1, while the San Antonio Spurs — recently spotlighted in a ranking of elite starting fives — and the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans are all awaiting their first official game action.

Dallas: P.J. Washington at the center of speculation

Even without playing (0-0), the Dallas Mavericks were in the news. Marc Stein reports that P.J. Washington could eventually be made available, as the extension market is being defined by cases such as Brandin Podziemski and Jalen Duren. In a conference where wing depth is crucial for serious contention, Washington’s situation will be closely monitored in Dallas and across the Southwest Division in the coming weeks.