An energetic opening night for the NBA saw the Golden State Warriors start their season on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers.
With LeBron James sidelined due to sciatica, the Lakers relied heavily on Luka Doncic, who tallied 43 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists.
However, Golden State’s offensive versatility proved to be too much from the start, led by Jimmy Butler’s 31 points, including a flawless 16-for-16 from the free-throw line.
The Warriors exploited the Lakers’ weak defensive discipline at will, en route to a 119-109 victory.
An unstoppable force in Golden State
The duo of Butler and Stephen Curry creates matchup nightmares for defenses.
A key part of the Warriors’ offense is using Curry’s gravity not aimlessly but advantageously, repeatedly, and it never fails.
NBA: Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers
Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images
Curry scored 23 points, added three steals, and his presence on the floor makes him a one-of-a-kind player.
Defenders prefer to stay glued to him, leaving lanes open for a star with the IQ of Butler to navigate and manipulate to the fullest.
As Butler continues to exploit defenders, they will become even more glued to him, creating space and room for Curry’s off-ball motions—forming a dynamic one-two punch that may prove unstoppable in the league.
Kuminga masterclass silenced all the haters
Jonathan Kuminga’s supporters were proud on opening night.
The offseason discourse painted him as a villain, with Warriors fans feeling he wasn’t worth the wait. He proved everyone wrong.
Starting on opening night, Kuminga played 33 minutes and scored 17 points, along with nine rebounds and six assists, shooting 4-for-6 from three.
Jonathan Kuminga, NBA: Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers
Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images
This was arguably the best game of Kuminga’s career in terms of playmaking, and he looked comfortable on the floor—making precise cuts, reading the game at the right moments, and displaying an explosiveness that’s unstoppable when he’s going downhill.
Kuminga is the X-factor for this Warriors team.
As he executes offensively, he has no problem being the primary defender when Luka Doncic is on the floor.
It’s like a perfect harmony—Kuminga does what the team asks of him, and in return, he gets easier looks thanks to the team’s unselfish play.
Warriors look like contenders from opening night
While the offense for Golden State looked like a well-oiled machine, their defense also shone against the Lakers.
They out-rebounded and recorded more steals than the Lakers, while holding them to just 25% shooting from three.
Draymond Green’s nine assists, while anchoring the defense, and Buddy Hield’s 17 points were demoralizing factors; whenever the Lakers tried to make a run, it was cut short by quick decisions and timely threes.
Overall, it was a promising way for Golden State to kick off the season.