Lakers rout Warriors 127-105 as Walker Kessler goes 12-for-12 in his debut
Walker Kessler scored 26 points on 12-for-12 shooting in his first game for the Los Angeles Lakers, who beat the Golden State Warriors 127-105 on Wednesday night to open their season, The Associated Press reported. Luka Doncic scored 28 and Austin Reaves added 23.
Kessler’s night: The 7-foot-2 center also grabbed nine rebounds, AP reported. His 12 shots without a miss were the second-most in Lakers history, behind a 14-for-14 game by Wilt Chamberlain in March 1969, according to AP. The Warriors said he became the first Laker since Shaquille O’Neal in 2003 with 10 dunks in a game.
Doncic and a rookie: Doncic scored 28 points in three quarters, with eight rebounds and seven assists, and banked in a half-court shot at the first-half buzzer, AP reported. He traded words throughout with Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, who drew a technical foul and scored 12 points in his debut, according to AP and the Warriors.
Golden State: Stephen Curry scored 23 points in 21 minutes to start his 18th season, the Warriors reported. Golden State trailed by as many as 35 and shot 8-for-36 from three-point range, according to the team. It played without Brandin Podziemski, Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porzingis and Moses Moody, AP reported.
Next up: The Lakers host the Clippers on Friday, and the Warriors host Memphis on Friday, according to AP.