The Warriors endured and defeated the Lakers of Doncic who scored 41 points!

With great looks and balance in defense and attack, The Warriors got off to a great start the 2025-26 season, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 119-109 early Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena. It was the second game of the opening NBA doubleheader of the night, after the Thunder beat the Rockets in double overtime.

The Lakers struggled without him LeBron Jameswho remains sidelined with sciatica and is expected to return in mid-November. It was the first time in his 23-year career that the “King” was absent from a premier season.

Luka Doncic did everything to keep the Lakers alive, but he didn’t find enough support. The Slovenian superstar completed the match with 43 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assistshitting the triple-double. He was 17-of-27 from the field, but just 2-of-10 on 3-pointers, and actually was the only stable offensive solution for the “lake people”.

The Warriors, on the other hand, displayed completeness and depth. THE Jimmy Butler scored 31 points, having an impressive 16/16 free throws, while o Steph Curry added 23 points and “sealed” the victory with a difficult three-pointer in the last minute. Jonathan Cuminga, star of the third period, finished with 17 points and 8 rebounds, while Buddy Hield provided important solutions off the bench with 17 points (5/10 three-pointers).

The first half was full of tension and errors, with both teams committing a total of 27 errors and committing an equal number of fouls. Marcus Smart was ejected with four fouls before the first half was even over, and he also committed an unsportsmanlike foul on Curry. Draymond Green, for the Warriors, received his first technical penalty of the year after a loud protest from the bench.

Doncic, however, single-handedly kept the Lakers close, already having 22 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists at halftime. With 12 points in the last two minutes of the second half, he reduced the difference to a point (57-56).

The third period, however, belonged to the Warriors. With Kuminga hitting two straight 3-pointers and leading a 16-4 run, the Warriors pulled away to close the quarter with a 17-point lead. The Lakers responded with a 9-0 run to start the fourth quarter to cut within six points, but the Warriors held control until the end.

Austin Reaves contributed significantly in the final quarter with a total of 26 points, 13 of which came in the fourth quarter, while DeAndre Ayton added 10 points and 6 rebounds. The Lakers paid for their lack of free throws (17/28).

The Warriors have shown from the very first game that they have the quality, depth and experience to reclaim the championship in the West. The Lakers, on the other hand, are required to find balance behind Doncic, who cannot carry the burden of every game by himself.

The Lakers travel to Phoenix to face the Suns, while the Warriors return to San Francisco for a home matchup with the Sacramento Kings.