Walker Kessler could not have picked a better way to start his Lakers career. The 7-foot-2 center went 12-for-12 from the field for 26 points and nine rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors 127-105 in Wednesday’s season opener at Crypto.com Arena. Luka Doncic added 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in three quarters, and Austin Reaves scored 23. It was a convincing first night of the post-LeBron James era.
Yesterday’s Lakers vs Warriors game-day guide set it up. Here is what happened.
Walker Kessler’s Perfect Debut
ESPN’s box score shows Kessler with 26 points on 12-of-12 shooting, 2-of-4 free throws, nine rebounds, two blocks and a plus-24 in 30 minutes. The Los Angeles Times reports that 10 of his 12 field goals were dunks. His night set two records, per the Times:
- He is the first player in Lakers history, and the first NBA player in the shot-clock era (since 1954-55), to score 20 or more points on at least 10-for-10 shooting in his team debut.
- His 26 points without a miss are the most in a team debut in the shot-clock era, passing Bob Greacen’s 18 in 1969.
AP added that 12 makes without a miss is the second-most in Lakers history, behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 14-for-14 in March 1969. Kessler had not played a competitive game since last Halloween because of injury, per AP.
“I’m extremely thankful,” Kessler said, per the Times. “Playing with the guys that we have on our team, I wish I could say it was really difficult, but they’re just so good. Their court vision’s insane. So they know my advantage is my height.”
JJ Redick called it “a good opening statement.” Infanity TV was there:
More from Kessler: Walker Kessler After 10 Dunks: “Try to Dunk Everything” and Walker Kessler on Luka Doncic: “He’s Just Wicked Smart”.
Luka Doncic vs. Yaxel Lendeborg
Before tip-off, Doncic spoke to the crowd: “Laker nation. Thank you for supporting us. It’s the start of something new. It’s going to be a special season.” On the Lakers’ opening possession he threw a lob to Kessler for a dunk, per AP and the Times.
The second quarter turned heated. After Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg fouled Doncic with 2:28 left in the half, the two traded words, and Lendeborg drew a technical foul. Doncic made the free throw, then banked in a half-court three at the buzzer and pointed at Lendeborg, putting the Lakers ahead 66-52 at halftime.
“Yeah, I mean, he was talking crazy,” Doncic said. “But, you know, I wasn’t trying to talk back. This season, I’m trying to not get techs… So I’m working on it. But as you can see, I think it worked great.”
Lendeborg didn’t back down. “It’s about him complaining the entire game and then you get the foul called,” he told reporters, per the Times. “C’mon, dawg. That’s just weak.” Lendeborg, the 11th overall pick, scored 12 points in his debut.
Doncic had 23 points at halftime, per AP, and finished 7-of-18 from the field, 5-of-12 from three and 9-of-9 at the line, with six turnovers. He sat out the fourth quarter. Redick was not surprised by the half-court shot. “I lost a lot of money to him,” he said in a postgame clip Infanity TV posted as JJ Redick on Luka Doncic’s Half-Court Shots. Doncic said he “knew that was going up.” It was his first competitive game since April 2, per AP. He also talked about being the face of the franchise: “It’s one of the biggest organizations in the world, if not the biggest… and I hope I can stay here long.”
Box Score Highlights
- Austin Reaves: 23 points, 6-of-11 shooting, 10-of-10 free throws, six assists, plus-25
- Quentin Grimes: 10 points and four assists off the bench, plus-20
- Jake LaRavia: 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting
- Starters: Doncic, Reaves, Kessler, Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle. Williams had nine points and four assists.
- Team: 57% shooting (46-of-81), 11-of-28 from three, 43-36 on the boards and 66 points in the paint. Their largest lead was 35.
The Lakers scored 34, 32 and 36 points in the first three quarters. Golden State won the fourth 37-25 once the benches came in. Bronny James, Chris Manon and Jaden Hardy each played seven minutes in garbage time. Jarred Vanderbilt did not play (coach’s decision).
Stephen Curry and the Warriors
Stephen Curry, listed as probable with a sore ankle, played 21 minutes and scored 23 points on 7-of-15 shooting, starting his 18th season. Golden State shot 8-of-36 from three, just 22%, the area we flagged as the key matchup. Draymond Green had two points and eight assists. Brandon Williams scored 14 off the bench. The Warriors were missing Brandin Podziemski, Jimmy Butler III, Kristaps Porzingis and Moses Moody. Redick said of Curry, “He bends your defense, he bends your rules.”
Injury Notes
- Jake LaRavia: hurt his ankle late in the fourth quarter and was helped to the locker room, per the Times. His status is unconfirmed.
- Collin Sexton: did not play (right soleus strain). “No setback, no setback,” Redick said. “Collaborative decision with performance, everyone involved… with soft tissue injuries, the athlete has to have confidence and full confidence.”
- Adou Thiero: out with left knee swelling. “He’ll be shut down for a couple days and then he’ll ramp back up. So he’s day to day, too,” Redick said.
- Cameron Carr: out with an oblique strain.
Source Notes
- Kessler’s records: the debut records come from the Los Angeles Times, and the Chamberlain comparison is from AP. They measure different things and do not conflict.
- Attendance: ESPN lists 19,057.
- Doncic’s parking gesture: the Times reports Doncic paid for fan parking in a lot near the arena. He declined to say how much.
What’s Next
The Lakers host the LA Clippers on Friday at Crypto.com Arena, then visit the Utah Jazz on Sunday, per ESPN’s schedule. Both Los Angeles teams are 1-0.
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