LOS ANGELES — The Golden State Warriors made a bold statement in their season opener, overpowering the Los Angeles Lakers 119–109 on Tuesday night at the Crypto.com Arena, to kick off the new NBA season in style.
Led by Jimmy Butler’s 31 points and Stephen Curry’s 23, the Warriors outclassed their Western Conference rivals with a third-quarter explosion that saw them go on an 18–4 run, taking control of the game for good.
Golden State weathered a remarkable performance from Luka Doncic, who poured in 43 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and dished out nine assists in his Lakers debut. But even his near triple-double could not save Los Angeles, who sorely missed LeBron James, sidelined with sciatica for the first opening night of his 23-year career.
“It’s always different when he’s not there,” said Warriors forward Draymond Green. “Luka is an incredible player, but Bron is Bron.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr praised Butler’s all-around display, particularly his perfect 16-for-16 shooting from the free-throw line and steady ball control — qualities the team has long needed.
“He really complements Steph and Draymond as well,” Kerr said. “Not only the free throws but the ball security. We’ve been a high-turnover team for a long time, and his ability to calm things down is huge.”
The Warriors led 28–22 after the first quarter, with Butler scoring 12 points. Curry struggled early with just three points in the opening frame but contributed three steals as the Lakers turned the ball over nine times.
The Lakers fought back in the second quarter, taking a brief one-point lead after Rui Hachimura’s back-to-back threes and a Doncic triple made it 54–53. But Butler’s late free throws gave Golden State a 55–54 halftime lead, and they never trailed again.
By the third quarter, Golden State’s relentless pace and defensive intensity wore the Lakers down. The Warriors extended their lead to double digits and maintained control through the fourth, with Curry sealing the win with two late threes.
“It’s good to get a win to start the season,” Green said. “We don’t want to be fighting from behind like last year. This is the kind of start we need.”
With LeBron’s return uncertain until November, the Lakers will be eager for a quick turnaround, while the Warriors appear primed for another title-contending campaign
