LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic, the Slovenian superstar often hailed as a basketball genius, delivered a dazzling 43-point performance in his first season opener with the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. Despite his near triple-double effort, which included 12 rebounds and nine assists, the Lakers fell 119-109 to the Golden State Warriors, who capitalized on their depth and sharpshooting to spoil LA’s season debut.
The Lakers were notably without LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, who missed a season opener for the first time in his 23-year career due to sciatica. James, expected to be sidelined until mid-November, watched from the bench as his new teammate Doncic tried to carry the load. However, Doncic’s brilliance—marking his 47th career 40-point game and third since joining the Lakers—wasn’t enough to overcome a balanced Warriors attack led by Jimmy Butler’s 31 points and Stephen Curry’s 23.
Doncic showcased his full repertoire, driving to the basket, dishing precise passes, and battling on the boards. Yet, his 2-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc highlighted the Lakers’ struggles from deep, a key factor in their ninth season-opening loss in the past decade. The Warriors, by contrast, leaned on their trademark perimeter game, with Buddy Hield draining five 3-pointers and Jonathan Kuminga adding 17 points to complement Curry’s three long-range makes.
The game’s turning point came in the third quarter when Golden State unleashed a 19-4 run to start the second half, building a lead that swelled to 17 points. The Lakers fought back in the fourth, with Austin Reaves erupting for 13 of his 26 points despite earlier foul trouble. LA trimmed the deficit to 105-99, but a crucial 3-pointer from Draymond Green with 3:33 remaining halted their momentum. Green, who scored eight points and picked up an early technical foul from the bench, proved clutch when it mattered most.
Butler was flawless at the free-throw line, going 16-for-16, while Curry sealed the game with a late 3-pointer—his first points of the fourth quarter. For the Lakers, newcomers Deandre Ayton (10 points, six rebounds) and Marcus Smart (nine points) showed promise but couldn’t match Golden State’s firepower. Al Horford, in his Warriors debut, contributed five points, including a 3-pointer to open his 19th NBA season.
Despite Doncic’s heroics, the Lakers’ lack of depth and cold shooting from deep underscored the void left by James. The Warriors, even without their full arsenal, demonstrated why they remain a formidable force, with Curry ceding offensive responsibilities to younger teammates like Kuminga and Hield while still delivering in critical moments.
For Doncic, the game was a reminder of his ability to dominate, but also of the challenges ahead for a Lakers team navigating the early season without their cornerstone. As LA looks to regroup, the Warriors’ early statement win sets the tone for their pursuit of another deep playoff run.