Walker Kessler made an immediate impact in his Los Angeles Lakers debut, scoring 26 points without missing a shot as the Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors 127-105 on Wednesday night. Luka Doncic added 28 points and seven assists, while Austin Reaves scored 23 as Los Angeles opened its first season without LeBron James with a convincing victory.
Kessler went 12-for-12 from the field and grabbed nine rebounds in 30 minutes, providing the interior presence the Lakers targeted when they acquired him from Utah in an offseason trade. His perfect shooting night was the second-most field goals made without a miss in Lakers history, behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 14-for-14 performance in March 1969.
The 7-foot-2 center had not played in a competitive game since last Halloween because of injury, but he made his presence felt immediately by finishing a Doncic lob on Los Angeles’ opening possession. He continued converting passes around the rim as the Lakers built their advantage.
Doncic scored 23 points in the first half and finished with eight rebounds, seven assists and five three-pointers. He also became involved in a prolonged confrontation with Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, who received a technical foul during their exchanges. Doncic capped the first half by banking in a shot from beyond half court at the buzzer before pointing toward the rookie.
Los Angeles led 66-52 at halftime after outscoring Golden State 32-19 in the second quarter. The Lakers extended their advantage with a 36-point third quarter, taking a 102-68 lead into the final period. Doncic sat out the fourth quarter as the Lakers maintained control.
Reaves shot 6-for-11 from the field and made all 10 of his free throws, adding six assists. The Lakers shot 57% overall and made 11 of 28 three-point attempts.
Stephen Curry led Golden State with 23 points, while Brandon Williams added 14 off the bench. Lendeborg finished with 12 points in his NBA debut, but the Warriors struggled from long range, making just eight of 36 three-point attempts.
Golden State was without Brandin Podziemski, Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porzingis and Moses Moody. The Lakers also missed new guard Collin Sexton and first-round pick Cameron Carr, while Jake LaRavia left in the fourth quarter with a limp.
The Warriors host Memphis on Friday, while the Lakers face the Clippers.
