Luka Dončić did just about everything he could Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. But he’s going to need some help, especially with LeBron James sidelined to start the season.
The Golden State Warriors picked up a solid 119-109 win over Dončić and the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night in the second half of an Opening Night doubleheader to officially tip off the 2025-26 NBA season. The Warriors held on down the stretch after leading by as many as 17 points.
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Dončić, now in his first full season with the Lakers after a stunning trade with the Dallas Mavericks last season, finished just shy of a triple-double with 43 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists. He shot 17-of-27 from the field but 2-of-10 from the 3-point line. That was about all the Lakers could manage offensively for much of the night, and it hurt.
Stephen Curry and the Warriors rolled to a balanced win over Luka Dončić and the Lakers on Tuesday night to open the season. (Harry How/Getty Images)
(Harry How via Getty Images)
The Warriors took a one-point lead into the break after what was a pretty sloppy and chippy first half. There were 27 combined turnovers and 27 combined fouls in the first 24 minutes, and Marcus Smart had four fouls by halftime — including a bad flagrant he committed on Stephen Curry early while throwing him to the ground. Draymond Green picked up his first technical foul of the season, too, after arguing with officials from the bench in the first quarter.
Dončić, however, kept the Lakers in it. He had 22 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists at the break, and accounted for 12 points in the last two minutes to keep the Lakers within a point after two quarters.
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Jonathan Kuminga, who nearly didn’t get a new deal with the franchise after months of a contract dispute, then went off in the third quarter. He powered half of a 16-4 burst out of the break with a pair of huge 3-pointers to give Golden State control of the game again. They ended up mounting a 23-9 run out of the period before someone other than Dončić scored for the Lakers.
The Lakers got back to within single digits briefly at the start of the fourth quarter, and then went on a 9-0 run of their own to cut the game to a two-possession lead late. But the Warriors successfully kept Dončić and the Lakers at arm’s length the rest of the way to grab the 10-point win. Curry put the game to bed with a deep contested 3-pointer in the final minute for good measure, too.
Austin Reaves finished with 26 points, 13 of which came in the fourth quarter to help the Lakers’ rally. Deandre Ayton was the only other player to hit double figures with 10 points and six rebounds. The Lakers shot just 17-of-28 from the free-throw too.
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James missed the game Tuesday night while dealing with sciatica. The 40-year-old is reportedly eyeing a mid-November return, though a specific date is not yet known. This was the first time in James’ 23-year career that he wasn’t available for his team’s season opener.
The Warriors, on the other hand, were very balanced offensively. Jimmy Butler finished with 31 points while going 16-of-16 from the free-throw line, and Curry finished with 23 points. Kuminga added 17 points and nine rebounds, and Buddy Hield came alive off the bench in the second half to put up 17 points while shooting 5-of-10 from beyond the arc.
Though it’s still early, this Warriors group looks well-rounded enough to compete with the best in the Western Conference when things are clicking offensively. The Lakers, on the other hand, are relying on their one player capable of winning league MVP honors this season. That strategy, while it will undoubtedly carry them for a while, likely isn’t sustainable.
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more from the NBA’s opening night, featuring Rockets-Thunder and Warriors-Lakers in Tuesday’s doubleheader:
Rockets vs. Thunder, Warriors vs. Lakers live updatesLive coverage is over89 updatesTue, October 21, 2025 at 8:50 PM CDT
Jack Baer
Jack Baer
Jimmy Butler: 31 points (16-of-16 on free throws), 5 rebounds, 4 assists
Draymond Green: 8 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists
Stephen Curry: 23 points, 4 assists
Jonathan Kuminga: 17 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists
Luka Doncic: 43 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists
Jack Baer
That will do it for the NBA’s opening night. The Warriors’ veteran trio of stars kept their team in control for the entire second half, while the Lakers sure looked like they were down one of the best players in the world. Luka Doncic tried and finished with 43 points, but only one other Lakers finished with more than 10.
Jack Baer
As the kids say, night night.
Jack Baer
We can probably call that the dagger from Stephen Curry. He hits a 35-footer to put GSW up 10 with less than a minute left, and now the Lakers are going for free throws.
Jack Baer
Jimmy Butler is 16-for-16 on free throws and is up to 31 points.
Jack Baer
Jack Baer
Jack Baer
Jack Baer
Jack Baer
A 9-0 Lakers run has the deficit down to six points with four minutes to go. Luka Doncic is still doing a ton, but so is Austin Reaves as he tries to avoid that sixth foul. He’s up to 18 points, nine assists and five rebounds.
Jack Baer
Luka Doncic makes two baskets and assists on another to cut the deficit to 12. He’s at 39 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists with about six minutes left, which isn’t going to do much to dispel the idea he’s going to have to do everything for the Lakers with LeBron James out.
Jack Baer
Jack Baer
Buddy Hield is also 5-for-9 on 3-pointers with 17 points off the bench. That gives him more points than every non-Luka Laker, and as many 3-pointers as the entire LA starting lineup combined.
Jack Baer
Jack Baer
The fourth quarter isn’t starting as the Lakers hoped, despite no rest for Luka Doncic. Austin Reaves also has five fouls, in case you’re wondering which defender the Warriors are going to be attacking for the rest of the game.
It’s 100-84 Warriors after a nice post move from Jimmy Butler.
Ryan Young
Luka Doncic kept the Lakers in it in the third, scoring 13 of their 25 points, but the Warriors still hold an 11-point cushion entering the final period. Kuminga is up to 17 points and eight rebounds for Golden State.
Ryan Young
The Warriors ended up mounting a 23-9 run to start the third quarter, and Luka Doncic was the only Lakers player to score during that stretch before Marcus Smart finally hit a free throw to end their dry spell. The Warriors have got a 78-64 lead now with 5:29 left in the period.
Ryan Young
The Warriors opened the third quarter on a 16-4 burst, and the Lakers have called timeout here suddenly down by 13. Half of that run has come from Jonathan Kuminga, too.
Ryan Young
Jonathan Kuminga hit a 3-pointer right out of the break for the Warriors, and the second half is officially underway.
Ryan Young
Warriors: 55
Jimmy Butler
17 points, 10-10 FT
Stephen Curry
14 points, 4-10 FG, 2-6 3FG
Warriors: 7-16 3FG, 13 turnovers
Lakers: 54
Luka Doncic
22 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists
Austin Reaves
12 points, 4 assists
Marcus Smart
5 points, 4 fouls
Lakers: 5-17 3FG, 14 turnovers