Lakers beat Warriors in opener as Doncic and Kessler connect early
Walker Kessler shot 12-for-12 in his Lakers debut as Los Angeles beat Golden State 127–105, with Luka Doncic finding the center for early lobs.
The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors 127–105 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 21, opening their 2026–27 season with a win. Center Walker Kessler made all 12 of his field-goal attempts in his Lakers debut, while Luka Doncic found him for a series of early lobs.
How Doncic and Kessler connected
LakersNation described three early lobs from Doncic to Kessler. NBC Sports reported that Kessler finished with 10 dunks, the most by a Laker in a season opener since Shaquille O’Neal in 2003. The outlets gave different point totals for Kessler: NBC Sports reported 24 and LakersNation reported 26.
Kessler credited the passers and said he focused on getting into position and trying to dunk, according to NBC Sports’ account of his postgame remarks. Doncic said Kessler moved toward the basket when he drove and made himself available when defenders doubled him. The early connection gave Los Angeles a way to finish possessions near the rim when attention shifted to Doncic.
How the Lakers pulled away from Golden State
Stephen Curry scored 16 points in the first quarter, helping Golden State stay close early. The Lakers then built a 66–52 halftime lead and were ahead 102–68 after three quarters, according to LakersNation. Doncic scored 28 points and sat out the fourth quarter after playing 30 minutes. NBC Sports and LakersNation reported different rebound and assist totals for him.
Golden State rookie Yaxel Lendeborg defended Doncic during part of the game. NBC Sports, citing NBA.com matchup figures, reported that Doncic shot 1-for-5 against him. Doncic also banked in a shot from half court at the second-quarter buzzer, before Los Angeles widened its lead after halftime. LakersNation reported that he had scored 13 points in the first quarter.
Both teams had players unavailable. LakersNation listed Collin Sexton and Adou Thiero among the Lakers’ absences, while Brandin Podziemski, Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody and Kristaps Porzingis were out for Golden State. NBC Sports described the Warriors’ frontline as shorthanded, an important condition of Kessler’s debut performance against them.
The Lakers are scheduled to host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, October 23, before playing at the Utah Jazz on Sunday, October 25, according to LakersNation. Those fixtures follow an opener in which Kessler’s finishing and Doncic’s passing were central to the Lakers’ attack.
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Sources and context
- On opening night, Luka Doncic, Walker Kessler pairing works beautifullyNBC Sports reporting, republished by Yahoo Sports
- Recap: Luka Doncic & Lakers Dominate Warriors On Opening NightLakersNation
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.