Luka Dončić drops 43 in Warriors' 119‑109 season‑opening win

When Luka Dončić stepped onto the hardwood at Crypto.com Arena on Monday night, the stakes were crystal clear: prove that the $86 million offseason acquisition could lift a franchise still reeling from the loss of Anthony Davis.

That night, the Warriors vs. Lakers season openerCrypto.com Arena turned into a showcase of firepower, fire‑on‑the‑court and a few painful missed threes. The Golden State Warriors edged the Los Angeles Lakers 119‑109, snapping the oscillating rivalry with a 12‑point win that left the new‑look Lakers at 0‑1 and the defending champs at 1‑0 in the Western Conference.

Season Opener Overview

The matchup was billed as a clash of two megastars: Stephen Curry, the 37‑year‑old point guard for the Warriors, versus the freshly‑minted Lakers star. Curry finished with 23 points on 6‑of‑14 shooting (3‑of‑9 from three) and added four assists, while the Warriors built a 62‑55 halftime lead that never wavered. The crowd, a sea of purple and gold, got a taste of what the 2025‑26 season might look like – a fast‑paced, three‑point‑centric showdown that still prized post play and playmaking.

Luka Dončić's Debut Performance

Dončić, now a basketball star for the Los Angeles Lakers, shouldered the scoring burden with a team‑high 43 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in 38 minutes. He went 17‑of‑31 from the field but struggled from deep, making just two of ten three‑point attempts. "I felt the rhythm early, but the defense closed in on the perimeter," Dončić told reporters in the locker room. "I'm not going to apologize for the missed threes – it's the first game, everyone’s still feeling it out."

The Slovenian’s near‑triple‑double marked the most points ever recorded by a Laker in a season‑opening game since Magic Johnson’s 42‑point debut back in 1979. Yet the loss highlighted a lingering question: can Dončić compensate for the void left by Davis, now a member of the New York Knicks?

Warriors' Winning Formula

The Warriors leveraged their veteran experience. Klay Thompson, back from an ankle surgery, contributed a quiet 14 points, while Draymond Green orchestrated the defense, recording five steals and two blocks. Head coach Steve Kerr praised his squad’s composure, saying, "We respected Luka’s talent, but we stuck to our identity – ball movement, spacing, and taking the open shot. That's why we kept the lead despite a Lakers surge in the third quarter."

Statistically, Golden State out‑rebounded the Lakers 49‑42 and forced 20 turnovers, three more than the Lakers' fifteen. The Warriors’ bench added 27 points, a testament to the depth that helped them close out the game.

Coaches and Analysts React

Laker head coach Darvin Ham, who inherited a roster in transition, was candid. "We showed flashes of what this team can do," Ham said. "Luka showed why we paid that price. The next step is to tighten up defense and find secondary scoring."

NBA analyst Doris Burke added, "The Lakers are now a one‑man show until they acquire another star. If they can surround Dončić with a reliable shooter, this could be a playoff‑bound team despite the early loss."

What This Means for the Western Conference

The Western Conference has never been tighter. With the Warriors sitting atop the Pacific Division, the Lakers find themselves in a catch‑up race not unlike the 2018‑19 season when a new superstar arrived mid‑year. The early loss adds pressure, but Dončić’s performance also proves that the Lakers can generate offense at a elite level.

Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets are all poised to challenge for the top three spots, making every game from here on out crucial for seeding.

Looking Ahead

The Lakers bounce back against the Sacramento Kings on October 23, 2025, still at Crypto.com Arena. The Kings, perennially a hurdle for Los Angeles, will test the Lakers' ability to adjust defensively. For the Warriors, a trip to the Chase Center to face the Phoenix Suns on October 24 will be the first real test of whether they can maintain their early momentum against a rising Western contender.

• Key Fact 1: Luka Dončić’s 43 points are the highest opening‑night total for a Laker since 1979.
• Key Fact 2: The Warriors improved to 1‑0, while the Lakers began 0‑1.
• Key Fact 3: Stephen Curry’s 23 points marked his 12th season with double‑digit scoring in a debut game.
• Key Fact 4: The game was the 190th meeting between the two franchises, with the Warriors now holding a 152‑138 edge.