Doncic Era Begins at Lakers with Rout of Warriors

By the Editorial Team · Friday, October 23, 2026

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors 127-105 in their season opener, led by Luka Doncic’s 28 points and Walker Kessler’s perfect 12-for-12 shooting in the first game without LeBron James. This victory highlighted Doncic’s role as the new franchise leader and set an optimistic tone for the Lakers’ championship aspirations.

Los Angeles opened the new NBA season on October 21 with a decisive statement as Luka Doncic and Walker Kessler led the Los Angeles Lakers to a commanding 127-105 victory over the Golden State Warriors. The game marked the Lakers' first without LeBron James, who left the franchise in free agency July, and established Doncic as the new cornerstone of the team. Doncic, acquired from Dallas in February 2025 and hailed as the franchise’s future, scored 28 points while emphasizing a championship goal in a full-page Los Angeles Times advertisement released that day.

Doncic’s performance included a highlight half-court three-pointer at the halftime buzzer, responding to comments from Warriors rookie Yayel Lendeberg, and set the tone for a dominant Lakers display. The team held a lead of up to 35 points, with Kessler, a recent acquisition from Utah, contributing a perfect 12-for-12 shooting night, which included 10 dunks—a Lakers debut record. Doncic praised Kessler’s impact, calling his performance “unbelievable” and noting that the team improved its defensive focus after a shaky first quarter.

Elsewhere on the second night of the season, Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards delivered a prolific 45-point effort to spoil Giannis Antetokounmpo’s much-anticipated debut with the Miami Heat. Edwards joined Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan as the only players with multiple 40-point season openers. He also contributed 10 rebounds and three assists, while new teammate LaMelo Ball, acquired from Charlotte, added 21 points, including five three-pointers. The Timberwolves outpaced the Heat 131-106, with Antetokounmpo scoring 35 points and grabbing six rebounds but unable to lead his new team to victory.

In Washington, Anthony Davis made his Wizards debut following a July trade from Dallas. Returning from hand and groin injuries, Davis tallied 34 points and 12 rebounds in a 128-116 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. The Wizards’ victory marked their first opening-night win since 2022 and energized a fan base that endured a league-worst 17-65 record last season, despite losing high draft pick AJ Dyabsntsa to a preseason ankle injury. Teammate Trae Young contributed 20 points and 13 assists as the Wizards demonstrated renewed competitiveness.

Toronto also enjoyed a strong start as the Raptors overwhelmed the Chicago Bulls 135-92. The game marked the return of Kawhi Leonard to Toronto after a trade from the LA Clippers, a transaction delayed by the NBA’s investigation into salary-cap violations that resulted in sanctions against the Clippers. Leonard, along with Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley, each scored 23 points. The Raptors dominated throughout, holding a lead as large as 48 points en route to a commanding win.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.