Lakers play first game on new network; will anyone watch?

The Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors will face off in their first preseason games on Sunday night at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif., but watching the game at home will be troublesome.

As of now, the new channel Time Warner Cable SportsNet is unavailable to anyone other than Time Warner subscribers. It means that watching the unveiling of the Lakers' new toys will only be possible to a select few. Due to negotiations with other providers going poorly, if you don't subscribe to Time Warner, you're out of the loop.

The Los Angeles Times' Bill Plaschke breaks down just how ugly the sports TV business can be and how it will effect the Lakers and their fans down the road.

Kobe Bryant will play despite sitting out both of Friday's practices with minor discomfort in his right foot. Bryant returned to practice on Saturday.

Dwight Howard also practiced on Saturday, but he is unlikely to play as he continues his recovery from back surgery.