2021-22 NBA Preseason: Top 5 must-watch matchups

#4 LA Lakers vs Golden State Warriors [Friday, October 8]

Golden State Warriors vs LA Lakers - Play-In Tournament

In their first preseason game of the 2021-22 NBA season, the LA Lakers will lock horns with the Golden State Warriors on Friday, October 8, at the Chase Center. The matchup is scheduled to start at 10:00 PM ET. This fixture will be the first game of the NBA regular season, with the two teams to face off on October 19 to start their respective campaigns.

The Lakers made some big moves in the offseason, recruiting stars like Carmelo Anthony, Russell Westbrook, Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard to their roster. That has made them the favourites to win the championship. However, they will be competing against a tough team, the Golden State Warriors, in the preseason. After a disappointing campaign, the Warriors will be looking to bounce back and make a strong statement during the 2021-22 season.

Warriors' ace shooting guard Klay Thompson is finally back in action, and will play for the team for the first time in two years. Although it will take some time for him to get back to match fitness, the news of him coming back is definitely big news for the team.

The two teams will be very careful in choosing the lineup for this preseason game, as they would not want any casualties before the start of the season.

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#3 LA Lakers vs Phoenix Suns [Wednesday, October 6]

Phoenix Suns vs LA Lakers - Game Six

The LA Lakers will face off against the Phoenix Suns in a preseason encounter on Wednesday, October 6. This matchup is scheduled to start at 10 PM ET, and is touted to be an exciting one. The two teams last played each other in the first round of the 2020-21 Western Conference Playoffs.

The Phoenix Suns got the better of the Lakers during the playoffs. However, the Purple and Gold are a much-changed side since that defeat. They had a stellar offseason, adding a lot of firepower to the team. After their busy offseason, the Lakers will hope to make things even by getting the better of the Suns in this preseason game.

However, the Suns will not be easy to defeat. They have players like Devin Booker and Chris Paul who are capable of doing a lot of damage to any defense in the league. Fans will have the opportunity to see the two teams face off in two preseason games.