LAS VEGAS — The Lakers marquee free agency acquisition was available to make his long-awaited preseason debut against the Warriors Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena.
Walker Kessler was upgraded to active for Tuesday’s matchup after missing the Lakers’ first three games of the preseason.
He injured his left pinky finger (non-shooting hand) during the first week of training camp.
The 7-foot-2 center progressed to participating during the live action portion of Sunday’s practice after doing everything else but live drills during Saturday’s session.
Kessler has had his left pinky wrapped the last couple of weeks after jamming it on a backboard during practice.
“Just taking precautionary stuff, especially since it’s preseason,” he said earlier in the week. “But it feels good.”
While Kessler made his debut, superstar guard Luka Doncic was held out of Tuesday’s game for rest.
Coach JJ Redick made it clear Doncic wasn’t injured after playing in two of the first three preseason games.
The Lakers’ last exhibition will come against the Nuggets on Friday in Los Angeles.