LOS ANGELES, United States, October 21, 2026: The Lakers’ first regular-season game after LeBron James did not feel like a team trying to replace the past. It looked like a team already building around a new core.
Walker Kessler scored 26 points without missing a shot, Luka Dončić added 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in three quarters, and Los Angeles beat the Golden State Warriors 127-105 at Crypto.com Arena.
Kessler’s perfect debut gave the Lakers exactly what they wanted
Kessler finished 12-for-12 from the field and grabbed nine rebounds. His 12 made shots without a miss were the second-most in Lakers history, behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 14-for-14 performance in March 1969.
That efficiency was not accidental. Kessler repeatedly finished passes around the rim and immediately gave Dončić a vertical target capable of turning pick-and-roll pressure into high-percentage offense.
Dončić controlled the game before sitting the fourth
Dončić scored 23 points in the first half and finished with 28, eight rebounds and seven assists before sitting out the fourth quarter.
He also supplied the night’s most memorable shot, banking in a half-court buzzer-beater before halftime after a chippy exchange with Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg.
That combination of scoring, playmaking and emotional control is exactly what Los Angeles needs from the player now carrying the franchise’s offensive identity. TSE recently examined that responsibility in Dončić’s promise of “no nights off” to Lakers fans.
Austin Reaves gave Los Angeles a third scoring threat
Reaves scored 23 points, giving the Lakers three players above 20. That balance helped Los Angeles avoid turning the opener into a one-man Dončić production.
The Lakers eventually led by as many as 35 points. Their ability to score efficiently around Kessler’s rim pressure gave Golden State few opportunities to dictate the tempo.
Golden State’s injuries were visible
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 23 points, Brandon Williams added 14 and rookie Lendeborg scored 12. Golden State opened the season without several important players, including Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porziņģis and Moses Moody, while Brandin Podziemski was also unavailable.
The absence of Porziņģis remains one of the key questions around the Warriors. TSE has already examined the uncertainty surrounding his health and Golden State’s options.
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| Player | Team | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Luka Dončić | Lakers | 28 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists |
| Walker Kessler | Lakers | 26 points, 9 rebounds, 12-for-12 FG |
| Austin Reaves | Lakers | 23 points |
| Stephen Curry | Warriors | 23 points |
| Brandon Williams | Warriors | 14 points |
The post-LeBron Lakers already have a recognizable shape
One opener cannot establish a title contender, but the Lakers immediately showed a clear formula: Dončić controls the game, Kessler dominates the rim and Reaves punishes defenses that overcommit.
The Warriors host Memphis next, while the Lakers host the Clippers. Follow the TSE NBA section, NBA Hub, offseason analysis and season schedule guide for the developing Western Conference picture.
Official NBA sources
Game documentation: NBA game page, official box score and official play-by-play.
