Lakers Roll Past Warriors 127-105 in Season Opener

The Los Angeles Lakers opened their regular season on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, with a commanding 127-105 victory over the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena. Led by strong performances from their star players and new acquisitions, the Lakers pulled away after a competitive first quarter to secure a convincing win.

Luka Doncic anchored the Los Angeles offense with a game-high 28 points, alongside eight rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. Doncic controlled the pace of the game and capitalized on matchups, while also providing a spectacular buzzer-beating three-pointer from midcourt at the end of the first half.

Walker Kessler had a stellar debut for the Lakers, contributing 26 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks. Kessler shot a perfect 12-for-12 from the field, recording ten dunks—five of which came off assists from Doncic—marking the most dunks by a Lakers player in a single game since Shaquille O'Neal in 2003.

Austin Reaves also added 23 points, four rebounds, and six assists in 32 minutes of action. Meanwhile, Quentin Grimes provided valuable minutes off the bench, accumulating 10 points and four assists during his 27 minutes on the floor as part of the newly configured Los Angeles rotation.

The Golden State Warriors stayed competitive through the first quarter, which ended with a narrow 34-33 advantage for the Lakers. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 23 points, scoring 16 in the opening eight minutes of the contest. However, Golden State struggled with shooting consistency in the second and third quarters, dropping to a 29 percent field goal percentage overall during stretches of the game.

The Warriors played without several key contributors, including Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porziņģis, Moses Moody, and Brandin Podziemski. Despite the shorthanded roster, rookie Yaxel Lendeborg offered a bright spot for Golden State in his NBA debut, scoring 12 points, grabbing three rebounds, and recording two assists in 29 minutes.

The Lakers capitalized on a massive 36-16 run in the third quarter to extend their lead to 102-68, effectively putting the game out of reach. The wide margin allowed both teams to rest their primary stars, with Doncic, Curry, and Draymond Green spending the entire fourth quarter on the bench.

Looking ahead, the Los Angeles Lakers will face the Clippers in their next matchup for the first crosstown derby of the season, followed by a game against the Utah Jazz. The Golden State Warriors will return home to host the Memphis Grizzlies before traveling to face the Phoenix Suns.