Lakers open season with 127-105 win over Warriors behind Doncic, Kessler
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The gist
Lakers guard Luka Doncic had 28 points and new center Walker Kessler scored 26 in a 127-105 opening win over Golden State.
The rebuilt roster's first test comes Friday against the Clippers with a thin frontcourt.
Background
The Lakers are Los Angeles's NBA team, and their 2026-27 season opener marked the first look at a reshuffled lineup built around guard Luka Doncic and new center Walker Kessler. Kessler, who made all 12 of his shots in his debut, arrived to anchor the middle, while wing Ziaire Williams — a Lancaster, California native who previously played for the Brooklyn Nets — started in his own Lakers debut. The opener drew attention partly because Doncic tangled verbally with Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, echoing a brief spat Doncic had with Williams last season when Williams was with Brooklyn.
How it unfolded
- Oct 19, 2026The Lakers trimmed their roster from 16 to 15 before the cut deadline, waiving former first-round pick Dalton Knecht after failing to find a trade partner.
- Oct 21, 2026Los Angeles opened the season with a 127-105 win over the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena; Doncic had 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and Kessler made all 12 of his shots for 26 points and nine rebounds.
- Oct 21, 2026Ziaire Williams started in his Lakers debut, posting nine points, four assists, three rebounds and a steal in 24 minutes; Los Angeles outscored Golden State by 12 during his time on court.
- Oct 21, 2026During the game, Doncic and Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg engaged in verbal sparring.
- Oct 22, 2026The injury report ahead of Friday's game against the Clippers listed Jake LaRavia as questionable with a right ankle sprain, Cameron Carr out with a right oblique strain and Adou Thiero out with a left knee effusion.
- Oct 22, 2026Heavy reported the Lakers still lack a true backup center and could target Jaylin Williams as a trade option.
Who’s saying what
- Player
- Ziaire Williams said it is "a lot better when you're on his side than the other side," called Doncic "the best player in the world" and said the rookie Lendeborg "was talking a lot of smack too."
- Coach
- Head coach JJ Redick said on LaRavia's ankle: "No update. I'm probably more positive than when it first happened," adding he would be evaluated again.
- Analysts
- Heavy framed the Lakers as still without a true backup center and floated Jaylin Williams as a suggested trade target behind Kessler.
Still unverified
Jake LaRavia's status for Friday's game against the Clippers was listed as questionable with a right ankle sprain. The Lakers' interest in trading for Jaylin Williams is reported as a suggested target, not a completed move.