The Lakers vs Warriors season opener was supposed to be about life after LeBron James. Instead, it belonged to Walker Kessler, who scored 26 points on perfect 12-for-12 shooting in his Los Angeles debut as the Lakers routed Golden State 127-105 on Wednesday night, October 21, 2026, at crypto.com Arena.
Full box score and recap via ESPN.
Kessler’s 12-for-12 night enters the record books
Twelve shots, twelve makes, nine rebounds. Kessler’s 26 points came without a single miss — the second-most field goals without a miss in NBA history, behind only Wilt Chamberlain’s mark from March 1969. For a franchise opening its first season without LeBron James, the timing could hardly be better: the Lakers’ new center announced himself with one of the most efficient games ever played.
Doncic sets the tone in three quarters
Luka Doncic needed just three quarters to pile up 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists — 23 of those points came in the first half. Austin Reaves added 23 points as Los Angeles blew the game open with a 36-16 third quarter (by quarter: Golden State 33-19-16-37, Los Angeles 34-32-36-25).
A shorthanded Warriors side
Golden State opened Stephen Curry’s 18th season severely undermanned: Brandin Podziemski sat out with a back injury, while Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porzingis, and Moses Moody remain out long-term. Curry still managed 23 points, rookie Yaxel Lendeborg — the 11th overall pick — scored 12 in a chippy debut that included a technical foul during his exchanges with Doncic, and Brandon Williams added 14. But the Warriors had no answer for the Lakers’ size or pace.
What this means going forward
One game does not make a season, and Golden State was missing half its rotation. But the question hanging over Los Angeles all summer — what does life after LeBron look like? — got its first emphatic answer. Both teams are back on the floor Friday: the Warriors host Memphis, while the Lakers host the Clippers.
Lakers vs Warriors: by the numbers
- Final score: Lakers 127, Warriors 105
- When and where: October 21, 2026, crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
- Walker Kessler: 26 points, 12-for-12 shooting, 9 rebounds
- Luka Doncic: 28 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists in three quarters
- Stephen Curry: 23 points in his 18th NBA season
