The Los Angeles Lakers announced their starting lineup for their first Emirates NBA Cup game of the season against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.
Luka Doncic returns to the Lakers’ lineup after LA upgraded him to probable on Friday morning, having been battling a finger sprain and leg contusion over the last week. Doncic is a huge return for the Lakers, as he was their best offensive option through the first two games of the season.
Doncic scored more than 40 points in both games and nearly recorded a triple-double in each game, falling just short with single-digit assists.
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Austin Reaves will start next to him in the backcourt, and will look to stay hot with Doncic back. Reaves took over the offense in Doncic’s absence, and has scored 25 or more points in every game this season. The guard is shooting 52.5 percent from the field in 2025-26, and recorded a career-high 16 assists in the Lakers’ win over the Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Rui Hachimura is quietly having a solid season for the Lakers, and will start at the four on Friday. The forward has scored 15 or more points in every game but the Lakers’ season opener and has been extremely efficient, scoring at a 60 percent clip.
DeAndre Ayton rounds out the Lakers’ frontcourt, and is coming of a solid string of games. The seven-footer has recorded a double-double in two of his last three games, and has a block in all five of the Lakers’ matchups this season.
Marcus Smart will start at the three spot for LA.
Lineup alert: Lakers will start Doncic, Smart, Reaves, Hachimura, Ayton on Friday.
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) November 1, 2025
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The Lakers will have Dalton Knecht, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jaxson Hayes, Nick Smith Jr., Bronny James, Christian Koloko, Chris Manon and Marcus Smart — who the Lakers upgraded to probable for the game along with Doncic — available off the bench for the game.
The Grizzlies will go with the same starting lineup from their last game, a win over the Phoenix Suns. Ja Morant and Jaylen Wells start in their backcourt, with former Laker Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jaren Jackson Jr. in the forward slots. Jock Landale will start at center.
Lineup alert: Grizzlies will start Morant, Caldwell-Pope, Wells, Jackson Jr., Landale on Friday.
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) November 1, 2025
Having won three of their last four games, the Lakers will look to stay hot with a win over the Grizzlies and start their NBA Cup run off on the right foot. Friday’s game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. PT.
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