Lakers Defeat Warriors 127-105 in Season Opener
Walker Kessler shines in his Los Angeles debut with a perfect shooting performance while Luka Doncic leads all scorers.
The Los Angeles Lakers opened the 2026-27 NBA regular season with a dominant 127-105 victory over the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena. Los Angeles took control of the contest during the middle quarters, outscoring Golden State significantly and pulling away to secure a statement win to begin the campaign.
Luka Doncic paced the Lakers with a stellar performance, recording 28 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Austin Reaves added 25 points and six assists, while newcomer Walker Kessler stole the spotlight in his regular-season debut for Los Angeles. Kessler finished with 24 points on a perfect 12-of-12 shooting from the field, which included 10 dunks and nine rebounds.
For the Warriors, Stephen Curry led the offensive effort with 23 points, though he struggled from beyond the arc by making just two of seven three-point attempts. Golden State played without Brandin Podziemski, who missed the game due to lower back soreness. De'Anthony Melton stepped into the starting lineup in his absence.
Golden State rookie Yaxel Lendeborg experienced an eventful NBA debut, which included guarding Doncic and exchanging words with the Lakers star. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr later offered the rookie some advice on the sideline regarding how referees manage on-court physical play, noting that officials enforce rules differently in high-intensity arenas.
Despite the competitive moments, the Warriors struggled to match the defensive intensity and depth of the Lakers as the game progressed. Off the bench, Brandon Williams provided an offensive spark by scoring 14 points for Golden State, while Gui Santos chipped in 12 points and five rebounds. Nevertheless, the contributions were not enough to overcome the middle-quarter deficit.
The Lakers capitalized on turnovers and maintained a high shooting percentage near the basket throughout the night. Head coach JJ Redick's squad demonstrated strong synergy and defensive pressure, handing the Warriors an early-season setback.
The Golden State Warriors will attempt to rebound when they face the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday. Meanwhile, the Lakers will look to carry their momentum forward following a successful opening night.