There was a lot of that all night — Kessler finished with 10 dunks in his Lakers debut, the most dunks in the first game of the season by a Laker since Shaquille O'Neal in 2003. It was just one game — against a shorthanded Golden State frontline — but this was exactly what Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick — not to mention Lakers nation — had dreamed it would look like when they paid a high price to get the big man out of Utah, then paid another high price with a new $130 million contract for the center.
Kessler finished the night 12-of-12 from the floor for 24 points, and his shot chart says it all.
Kessler understood the assignment.
"Just the way he saw, you know, when I was driving, he stepped up. When I was doubled, he played in the pocket," Luka Doncic said postgame.
What was Kessler seeing to step up into the right place?
"It's not what I saw, it's what Luka and [Austin Reaves] and all the other guys saw, throwing me the ball..." Kessler said. "I wish I could tell you I did something crazy, but I think just being in the right spots and being vertical and just trying to dunk everything — that's really the biggest thing, is having the attitude and mentality to try to dunk everything."
These are Doncic's Lakers now — everything ran through him on offense — and he looked comfortable leading the Lakers to a 127-105 win (that wasn't that close). Doncic finished with 28 points on 7-of-18 shooting, with eight rebounds and seven assists. The Warriors started with rookie Yaxel Lendeborg on Doncic, and to his credit, he did a respectable job (Doncic shot 1-of-5 in the matchup, according to NBA.com stats), did not back down, and was in Doncic's face and talking trash. That was his rookie mistake. You don't want to light a fire under Doncic, or this kind of thing happens.
The Warriors stayed close for a quarter, mostly because Stephen Curry had 16 first-quarter points and was getting free on backcuts. Eventually Curry had to rest, the Lakers tightened their defense, and this shorthanded Warriors roster — no Jimmy Butler, no Moses Moody, no Kristaps Porzingis, no Brandin Podziemski — is going to struggle if Curry isn't lighting it up.
It's just the first of 82, and the Warriors aren't the stiffest test, but the Lakers like what they saw.
This is the Doncic and Kessler pairing the Lakers need.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 21: Yaxel Lendeborg #1 of the Golden State Warriors & Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game on October 21, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Yaxel Lendeborg made headlines during his debut NBA game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Was it all for the right or wrong reasons? That’s up to you.
A tall task was given Lendeborg during his first official game at the highest level of professional basketball: guarding one of the league’s best players in Luka Dončić.
Given Dončić’s penchant for trash talk and Lendeborg’s refusal to back down from challenges, two strong personalities would inevitably clash — and clash they did.
Rookie Yax goin’ at Luka 🍿
Yaxel Lendeborg and Luka Doncic got into it during Warriors-Lakers 👀 https://t.co/DRQb9kTVqI
Trying to go at one of the league’s preeminent scorers — who, by the way, is infamously fueled by trash talk — is a bold move from the rookie. Although it wasn’t primarily due to Lendeborg’s defense (Gui Santos spent considerable reps on the Slovenian superstar), Dončić did end up scoring 28 points, albeit on an inefficient 7-of-18 from the field. But through the use of his foul-baiting trickery, Dončić did end up going to the line plenty, going a perfect 9-of-9 from the charity stripe, which allowed him to finish with a respectable 63.8% true shooting clip.
The highlight of the Lendeborg-Dončić feud on the court came on a half-court heave to end the first half:
From halfcourt.
To end the 1H.
This shot from Luka 🤯 https://t.co/K5vM0otMtE
Off the court, Lendeborg — known for his blunt postgame quotes with nary a filter applied — was asked about his verbal altercation with Dončić. Suffice to say, he did not mince words:
Yaxel Lendeborg said he “lost all respect” for Luka Doncic after facing him tonight because he said Doncic was “complaining the entire game.”
On his interaction with Doncic: “I told him he sucks. He can’t score on me.”
Full soundbite https://t.co/1NPctFQ3Vp
Might I remind everyone: the Warriors and the Lakers play three more times this regular season. With what happened tonight, the next couple of tilts will be must-watch TV — if only for the continuation of this budding feud.
What was not must-watch TV, however, was the Warriors’ performance, in which they were blown out easily by a Lakers squad led by Dončić and Austin Reaves. Granted, the Warriors were missing approximately $100 million in salary tonight — but they will continue to miss a considerable chunk of their important personnel for a considerable chunk of the regular season.
If this portends the upcoming season, it’ll be a long one, indeed.
Clippers guard Darius Garland lets out a yell after scoring against the Kings during the second quarter Wednesday at Intuit Dome. (Luke Hales / Getty Images)
Darius Garland, microphone in hand, waited patiently at midcourt to speak before the Clippers tipped off their 2026-27 NBA season against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night at Intuit Dome.
“Clipper Nation, Clipper Nation,” the eighth-year guard said to raucous cheers in Inglewood. “We’ve been working hard all summer, ready to really turn up this year. [We’ll] try to play at the highest level. [I] really appreciate the support from my teammates, coaching staff [and] organization — really appreciate everybody that comes out and … continues to support. We’re gonna be here all year.
“Clipper Nation, let’s go.”
Garland wasted no time giving Clippers fans something to smile about after an offseason of torment and transformation. He started the game shooting five-for-five from the field and three-for-three from deep, scoring 16 points in nine minutes and fueling the Clippers’ 121-96 blowout win over the Kings.
“Darius, I thought, came out and set the tone early, scoring the ball offensively,” coach Tyronn Lue said. “And [in] the second half, just getting everybody else involved, getting guys shots. … He did a good job of really orchestrating that second half.”
Garland led the Clippers with a dominant 30 points on 11-for-19 shooting and four assists.
“Shots [were] falling,” Garland chuckled. “The first trey ball went in, and after that, the rim just looked bigger and bigger.”
Perhaps most importantly for the team’s near future, Garland looked comfortable and confident as the Clippers’ alpha, beginning his first full season in Los Angeles after being acquired from Cleveland in a trade for James Harden in February.
“He’s our leader,” Clippers center Brook Lopez said. “Our best player. Everything starts with him. He’s been so great.
Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis, meanwhile, did the heavy lifting for Sacramento, with the shooting guard scoring 28 points and the center facilitating the offense with 14 points, eight assists and 18 rebounds.
Kings forward Keegan Murray was scoreless through the first three quarters and was held to just two points. And rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr., whom Sacramento selected No. 7 in the draft out of Arkansas, posted 12 points on an abysmal five-for-24 shooting in his debut.
The Clippers, however, had fun to start the post-Kawhi Leonard era.
Following Garland’s lead, L.A.’s returners, including forward Derrick Jones Jr., guard Kris Dunn and centers Isaiah Jackson and Brook Lopez, were efficient and productive. Jones finished with eight points, five assists, six rebounds and an electric alley-oop slam; Dunn had seven points, seven assists and five rebounds with his usual hard-nosed defense; Jackson had 13 points and five rebounds; and Lopez had 17 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.
“I’m excited, obviously, home opener, great energy,” Lopez said. “But just taking it one game at a time, trying to help my team win.”
The Clippers’ new guys also had the fans’ attention.
Former Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, who signed a three-year deal with the crosstown rival in the offseason, struggled in his Clippers debut and finished with 10 points on three-for-13 shooting.
Ironically, Hachimura’s looking forward to bouncing back against his old team on Friday.
“[Nervous] for what?” he laughed.
Guard Gradey Dick, a piece of the offseason trade that sent Leonard back to Toronto, was far more productive with 12 points.
Then there’s the rookie out of Illinois.
Keaton Wagler, the Clippers’ No. 5 pick in the draft, posted 15 points with five assists and five rebounds off the bench.
“It was definitely chills,” Wagler, 19, said of his regular-season debut. “From the intros, to the first bucket, to the end of the game. The fans were into it. It was live in there. It was a great atmosphere. I love playing here.”
Wagler had an assist on his first touch and converted a savvy layup for his first career points.
The Clippers’ highest draft pick since Blake Griffin (No. 1 in 2009), Wagler was comfortable from the jump and gave his new fan base plenty to be hopeful for.
After all, he is the youngest NBA player since LeBron James to score 15 points on 50% shooting with five-plus assists and five-plus rebounds. Wagler also joined Ernie DiGregorio (1973) as the only other Clippers rookie to have at least 15 points and five assists in a season opener.
“He’s been working his butt off, literally,” Garland said. “He’s been in the gym every day.”
Fellow rookie Baba Miller, a forward the Clippers drafted with the No. 36 pick, finished with four points and three rebounds.
Lue — whose first starting lineup featured Garland, Dunn, Jones Jr., Hachimura and Jackson — and the Clippers are in unfamiliar territory without a superstar on the roster and with most outsiders expecting the team’s streak of 15 consecutive plus-.500 campaigns to end.
But as Clippers interim president of basketball operations Trent Redden nervously said on media day, the team works well with its back against the wall.
“Win as many games as we can,” Lue said pregame. “Our goals don’t change. We have our team goals that we don’t wanna discuss outside these walls, but we feel confident, we understand we’re putting the work in.”
Postgame, though, Lue began his news conference by shouting out Steve Ballmer, the Clippers’ governor, who was suspended for a year after the NBA’s salary cap circumvention investigation.
Lue, Lopez and Garland all noted how they’re competing in the house the billionaire built.
“That win was for Mr. Ballmer,” Lue said. “Just want to thank you for everything. We’re still fighting for him.”
Injury updates
The Clippers said guard Bradley Beal (knee), center Yanic Konan Niederhauser (foot) and forwards Brandon Ingram (heel) and Max Strus (foot) are all making progress in their rehab journeys but won’t travel for the team’s first road game on Sunday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
He set the record for most points during a debut in franchise history with 35 – a mark previously held by LeBron James.
He set the tone with a 21-point first half on a barrage of downhill drives and finishes at the rim, giving the Heat a legitimate Most Valuable Player candidate they haven’t had since James was on the roster. He played with pace and was practically impossible to guard in transition and in the paint, where he scored a game-high 24 points.
Yet – and it’s essential to point out here that it’s merely one game and that it was always going to take some time for this group to find its potential – the Heat will be in trouble if they cannot do these two things.
Miami bricked 3-pointer after 3-pointer on Wednesday, Oct. 21 in the 131-106 beating it caught in their much-anticipated season opener, which is concerning because this was precisely the weak spot the team was facing headed into the season. The Heat also got torched on defense, especially along the perimeter, which fed into the offensive struggles.
Miami traded away much of its young core and had to scramble during the offseason to add worthy shooters. And on a team with Antetokounmpo as its centerpiece, shooting is a non-negotiable. Antetokounmpo carries so much gravity when he has the ball in his hands, sucking defenders into the paint, which tends to leave players wide open in the perimeter. It’s why Antetokounmpo has averaged at least 5.4 assists per game each of the last 10 seasons.
Yet, Miami made only 8-of-33 attempts (24.2%) from 3-point range. Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Nikola Jović, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Pelle Larsson – players expected to convert catch-and-shoot looks – combined to go 3-of-20 (15%).
“We didn’t get many good looks,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters after the game. “(Antetokounmpo) was a force of nature, for sure, doing what he does. But we didn’t look like us offensively.”
In fact, it was so bad for the Heat that Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, who dropped 45 on Miami, actually made one more 3-pointer (nine total) than the entire Heat lineup.
Spoelstra went on to say that Miami did “uncharacteristic” things, but he was generous with the good looks comment. A lot of them were with plenty of space. The issue was that role players seemingly still don’t know how to play with Antetokounmpo, with many resorting to standing around, waiting for the ball to come to them.
Compounding the poor shooting was relative disinterest on defense. This is particularly uncharacteristic of Spoelstra and the Heat, who pride themselves on making everything difficult for opponents.
Minnesota shot 46.9% from the field, which is fine – Miami was actually more efficient at 48.1% – but the Timberwolves unloaded from deep, draining 21-of-50 attempts (42%). The edge of converted 3-pointers for the Timberwolves, 13, created a differential of 39 points. Very few teams, if any, will be able to win with that disparity.
The Heat under Spoelstra have usually had their defensive intensity feed offensive rhythm. Spoelstra’s teams do best when they get stops and force turnovers, so they can sprint out into transition. But when having to take the ball out time and time again, that momentum is totally neutralized.
The good news for Antetokounmpo and the Heat is that it’s merely one of 82 and that they now know what they cannot let happen against a team that shoots well.
For his part, Antetokounmpo chose to start the assessment from within, as he told reporters after the game, simply: “We have to trust what we’re doing.”
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 21: Cooper Flagg #32 and Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks look on during the game on October 21, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (0-1) opened the 2026-27 season against the in-state rival Houston Rockets (1-0) on Wednesday night, falling 128-110 at the Toyota Center after one of the worst second quarters you will ever see. The long-awaited return of Kyrie Irving only halfway materialized, as the veteran guard logged just 24 minutes in his first game back from a torn ACL he suffered in March 2025. But for those 24 minutes, Mavs fans got their first look at the dynamic duo of Irving and Cooper Flagg.
Head coach Dusty May made plenty of lineup switches in the early going. In fact, 10 players logged over five minutes each, well before halftime rolled around. The starting five fared well in the opening minutes, but the sample size was small and you have to wonder if the frequency of substitutions didn’t contribute heavily to the lack of rhythm thereafter. It didn’t help that the Rockets are a much more well-rounded team and Dallas is still finding its way. About 20 minutes into the game, this one was over.
Let’s get to the grades!
Kyrie Irving: A-
15 PTS / 4 REB / 2 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 24 MIN
Yes, this grade is intentionally generous. Irving’s numbers didn’t jump off the box score, but this is a guy who hasn’t played in nearly 600 days(!) and who, in limited minutes, arguably played harder than any other Maverick. He drove, he shot (very well; 6-of-9 overall), he absorbed contact and got to the line, he played defense and he even got in amongst the trees for a few rebounds. Certainly not the best game in his Hall-of-Fame career, but against the backdrop of a return from injury, this was nothing short of amazing and a nice welcome back from a very long layoff.
Max Christie: C-
5 PTS / 3 REB / 2 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 29 MIN
Christie is likely to face some slightly harsher grades from me on nights where he camps out at the 3-point line almost exclusively. He’s a great shooter from deep (not tonight; 1-of-7) and needs to be hoisting from beyond the arc, but he’s got to mix it up a bit. Worse than not driving, the one time he did, he made an ill-advised pass underneath to Daniel Gafford rather than taking an open mid-range or finishing at the rim.
Cooper Flagg: A
32 PTS / 5 REB / 2 AST / 3 STL / 1 BLK – 33 MIN
This was a funny game for Flagg. He didn’t shoot well at first, but then jumped his shooting percentage to over 50% at the end of the third quarter (10-of-17 overall for the game). He scored 23 of his game-high 32 points in the second half. Turnovers and fouls were the primary blemishes (four each), but otherwise he picked up where he left off last season, playing beyond his years and putting up a really impressive opening game.
P.J. Washington: C+
10 PTS / 4 REB / 2 AST / 0 STL / 1 BLK – 31 MIN
Washington started hot, played well overall, but ultimately disappeared — not in the sense that he was on the court and did nothing, but rather that he literally didn’t play much late in the game. Overall, he was just fine, but his four turnovers really hurt his grade, and he didn’t leave a meaningful mark on the game.
Daniel Gafford: D
2 PTS / 3 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 2 BLK – 22 MIN
Gafford looked sluggish, as though he was just plodding around somewhat aimlessly. The Mavs got shredded at the rim and rebounded poorly for stretches of the game whether Gafford was sitting or playing. As the only real center on the team, the Mavs needed more from him than logging as many fouls as rebounds (three) before checking out in the first half. Then he added another foul in the second half without another rebound. The starting center had more fouls than rebounds for the game.
Morez Johnson, Jr.: N/A
6 PTS / 3 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 14 MIN
Johnson is not grade-eligible yet simply because there is no real sample size to draw from, but we wanted to include the rookie for his first NBA game. Johnson delivered what you could reasonably expect for a rookie coming off the bench with limited minutes. He shot well enough (3-of-5), grabbed a couple of boards, took care of the ball, and fouled like it was his last chance to ever do it. Did he look like a rookie? Yes. Did he show promise? Also yes. Reasonably solid game for his first true outing.
Marcus Sasser: A
17 PTS / 1 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 23 MIN
Sasser was nothing short of awesome. If he can play like this every night, the Mavs will have gotten a steal for sure. He didn’t pepper every category of the box score, but he microwave scored and looked very comfortable with the ball and running the offense a bit. He made the most of his time and impressed relative to what was likely limited expectations. He was 6-of-8 overall, including 4-of-5 from deep.
Final Thoughts
The Mavericks’ performance in the second quarter will hopefully be the worst quarter they play for many years to come. No hyperbole — it’s very difficult to imagine they could play that badly again anytime soon. This is a new team, experimenting with lineups, on the road against a much more established opponent. There are 81 games yet to come, so flush this one, chalk it up to an ongoing feeling out process and move on. Irving is back, rookies are getting some burn, and a tighter rotation will be established as time goes on.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
LOS ANGELES – Walker Kessler got a standing ovation from the Crypto.com Arena crowd as he subbed out with six minutes left to go in the Los Angeles Lakers' season-opening 127-105 blowout win over the Golden State Warriors firmly in hand on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
Kessler stole the show after wreaking havoc all night in the paint, scoring 26 points on a perfect 12-for-12 shooting performance – 10 of which were dunks, nearly all of which came via alley-oop – to go along with nine rebounds and two blocks in his Laker debut.
Not a bad first impression for a guy who has been vocal about embracing the spotlight and pressure that comes with being a center who wears the purple and gold.
"The energy's great," he told reporters after practice on Tuesday. "I remember being in Utah. Every time we played the Lakers at LA. I was there for Luka’s opening night, and ... it was insane. The fan base is unreal, their energy is great and playing for that, obviously … You can place on yourself a little bit of pressure. But for me, I just look at it as an opportunity to compete for a such a great franchise."
But the biggest surprise from Wednesday night wasn't Kessler's dominant showing, it was how seamlessly the Lakers' new "Big Three" flowed. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves were throwing it in Kessler's zip code at times and he still was able to come down with it to make a play.
Then, there were unexplainable plays like Dončić wrapping the ball behind his back and slipping it by Draymond Green in the post and right into Kessler's chest as he stood all alone under the hoop. All that was left for him to do was reach up.
Rob Pelinka paid a steep price to acquire Kessler this summer – two unprotected first round picks in 2031 and 2033, and first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030. It's still early, but it's already looking like he was worth every penny.
Any concern that Curry was at less than full strength after tweaking his ankle in an open practice last week should have evaporated by the end of the first quarter, if not earlier. He was just as smooth an operator as ever, even while breaking in a new, five-out offensive system.
Curry finished with 23, including 16 of their first 21 when he took a seat for the first time at the 4:24 mark of the first quarter. The new system did nothing to disrupt his chemistry with Draymond Green, who assisted on three of his first-quarter buckets and dished out eight total.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry gestures after scoring during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
The Warriors were efficient when Curry was on the floor, but the new system didn’t make up for the playmakers that they continue to lack when he takes a seat on the bench.
The clean, crisp basketball that Steve Kerr strives for was on display as the Warriors kept it within 1 through the first quarter, turning the ball over just once to 10 assists while creating efficient looks to knock down 13 of 24 attempts from the floor.
From the second quarter on, however, it was more of the same sloppy, stuck-in-the-mud offense that too often plagued them last season. They finished 37-for-91 (41%) from the field — just 8-for-36 from 3 (22%) — and still ended up coughing up the rock 16 times for 25 points.
Warriors played big and were still too small
With Kristaps Porzingis out for who knows how long and backup center Charles Bassey also missing with knee tendinitis, the Warriors simply had no answer for Walker Kessler.
Walker Kessler of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles during a game against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
The 7-foot-2 center was a regular recipient of lobs from Luka Doncic and mixed in a handful of ferocious putbacks dunks. On his way to finishing a perfect 12-for-12 for 26 points with nine rebounds, both game-highs, Kessler slammed home all his first 11 buckets — the most dunks in one game by a Lakers player since prime Shaquille O’Neal, according to ESPN’s research.
Without Porzingis, the Warriors are going to have to deal with a size disparity at center against more than just the Lakers, and Kerr offered a clue as to his plan to make up for it.
With Brandin Podziemski dealing with low back soreness, De’Anthony Melton took his spot in the starting lineup alongside Curry, Green, Gui Santos and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg.
Kerr made it a point to match Curry and Green’s substitution patterns to keep them on the court together. When they came off, the Warriors went as big as they could:
Brandon Williams was the only guard on the floor with Al Horford, Georges Niang, Santos and Lendeborg. But they were too small and unathletic enough to keep the Lakers in check.
They allowed Los Angeles to score 21 fast-break points, 15 second-chance points and shot 57% from the field.
Yaxel Lendeborg of the Golden State Warriors plays defense on Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers during a game at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Doncic got the last laugh (and a few more), but Lendeborg never backed down. He got into Doncic’s face after getting baited into a shooting foul, and he kept talking all the way down the floor after denying Doncic on a step-back 3-pointer — leading to his first career technical.
Lendeborg’s 6-foot-9 frame and even more sizeable confidence allowed him to fit right in, but there were also painfully clear signs that he was playing his first career NBA game.
No. 1 might have been igniting Doncic, who went off for 28 points while getting to the foul line nine times.
But the film will also show Lendeborg driving into multiple defenders with no clear plan on a couple possessions, a few missed defensive assignments and him looking left and right trying to find where Kessler came from after flying over him for a putback dunk.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 21: Yaxel Lendeborg #1 of the Golden State Warriors plays defense on Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers on October 21, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For the first 20 minutes of the 2026-27 season, the Golden State Warriors looked pretty good against the Los Angeles Lakers. After that? Not so much.
After Will Richard’s dunk got the Warriors within a point at 49-48, the Lakers closed the quarter with a 17-4 run that featured two personal fouls and a technical from rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, one of Walker Kessler’s 10 dunks, and a half-court buzzer-beater from Doncic, clearly inspired by Yaxel’s trash talk.
The offense and defense fell apart after that, and the Lakers invoked Lawler’s Law with 28 seconds to go in the third quarter by scoring their 100th point. By three minutes into the final quarter, Steve Kerr was clearing his bench, not that it looked all that different in a game where the Warriors had five players out.
The final margin was 127-105, and it really wasn’t that close. Want to know how bad it got? Bronny James played seven whole minutes (he scored two points).
It was a brutal introduction to the NBA for the Warriors’ No. 11 overall pick from this draft. In fairness, that has happened to a lot of players who tried to guard Luka Doncic, who finished with 28 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, along with six turnovers. Lendeborg had 12 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals in his debut.
Arguably, the game started to slip away when Draymond Green picked up his third foul and had to sit early in the second quarter. He led the Warriors with eight assists in 21 minutes, scoring two points and committing four turnovers.
Steph Curry started out hot, scoring 16 points in the first quarter on 7-for-9 shooting, along with two threes in just under eight minutes. Then he missed all four of his second-quarter shots, though he got two steals and made all four of his foul shots. He finished with 23 points in 21 minutes, with his night ending quite early.
The combination of Green and Al Horford did very little to contain Kessler, who was a perfect 12-for-12 from the field with nine rebounds and two blocks. He finished with the most dunks by any Laker since Shaquille O’Neal and the first perfect shooting night with at least 12 attempts since Wilt Chamberlain in 1969.
Doncic pushed hard to get Kessler this summer, and he looks like a genius for one game at least, though there’s definitely been stronger defensive efforts than the Warriors provided tonight. Also all their big men are short, really old, or rookies playing in their first NBA games.
Watching the Warriors this year might be a lot like looking at a team photo of the 1980’s Boston Celtics: It could get really ugly. The Lakers are good, the Warriors are injured, but it’s shocking to see just how overmatched this team looks. 27 nationally-televised games to go!
MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 21: Anthony Edwards #5 and LaMelo Ball #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrate during the game against the Miami Heat on October 21, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
“You can’t go 82-0 if you don’t start 1-0.” – LeBron James (paraphrasing)
Expectations were high, and the degree of performance was even higher. On opening night, your Minnesota Timberwolves dusted the Miami Heat by a final score of 131-106. This game got out of hand for Miami in the third quarter and Minnesota never looked back. The new Wolves jerseys were hotter than the otherwise electric introduction of Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose historic 35-point debut will be forgotten amidst the drubbing by the hands of Anthony Edwards and his new supporting cast.
There is not, in truth, a ton of room to poke holes in this performance from the Timberwolves. It was seamless and fluid. This team played like they’d been playing together for a few seasons at minimum. It was an encouraging start to a season where many naysayers will claim that newcomer LaMelo Ball does not impact winning.
However, the result of this game against a retooled Miami Heat team would suggest that sustained success is on the way.
Anthony Edwards
The headline for this section does not need much else. What more can you say?
Edwards finished the game with a massive 45 points on 16 of 29 shooting from the floor, including a sterling nine of 17 mark from three-point range. His 10 rebounds capped off a sensational double-double. It was just another electric performance.
All of the offseason chatter about Edwards feeling more at home without primary ballhandling duties seemed to ring true. At no point in the game did Ant look uncomfortable moving off-ball and finding his shots. Much of this comfortability can be attributed to the play of LaMelo Ball and the schemes drawn up by head coach Chris Finch to ensure that Edwards can be fully unleashed this season.
Ant cashed in on his open looks. He will likely continue to do so. It figures to stay this way for the foreseeable future.
The sample size is obviously small, though this type of offensive output from Edwards is exactly what president of basketball operations Tim Connelly had in mind when making the seismic trade for LaMelo Ball. Anything else on top of this is just gravy as the opposing teams will have to scramble to adjust to the shot-making potential of the Wolves starting backcourt and reserves.
The Timberwolves as a whole shot 42% from deep even without heavy minutes or volume from projected deep shooter bench players Ayo Dosunmu (29 minutes, one for three from perimeter) or Bones Hyland (three minutes, one for two 2 from perimeter). If Minnesota can keep this momentum up against a physically imposing and big team like Miami, the sky would appear to be the limit for this squad.
At halftime in the game, folks around me at Dangerous Man brewing had commented how it had been a “sneakily quiet 20+ point scoring night” from Ant. His 45 point double-double made sure that his performance was anything but quiet. He now joins Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain to be the only players to score 40+ points in multiple season debuts.
Non-Rudy Rebounding Fears Temporarily Averted
The new-look Miami Heat are big. What their roster lacks in guard play they make up for in sheer size and intimidation.
A starting frontcourt of Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, and Andrew Wiggins appears huge on paper. These are three huge forwards with all the athleticism in the world that should suggest they dominate on the glass. This was not the case on Wednesday night, as the Timberwolves out-rebounded the Heat 52-34.
Edwards himself had the aforementioned 10 rebounds, and Gobert contributed 15 boards. Even the slender Jaden McDaniels, who had a stellar and efficient game offensively, had eight rebounds against this gigantic Miami team. The Heat had no answers for the size and length of the Timberwolves, who allayed any offseason concerns about roster size and physicality in the departure of Julius Randle and Naz Reid.
It remains to be seen whether or not this rebounding effort can sustain across different matchups, though it is encouraging to see Minnesota dominate the glass against a team that should, on paper, exploit this apparent weakness in the Wolves roster.
Miami is, of course, also adjusting to a radically different roster makeup this season. They will likely work out the kinks and, pending the health of Antetokounmpo, become a dominant team on the glass and in the paint. However, tonight was not that night.
Brief Concerns
While I did say it was difficult to poke holes in Minnesota’s performance, it is not impossible. There are a few areas that the team could still clean up in order to lead to more complete games.
The first thing that comes to mind is the offensive involvement of Rudy Gobert. While his usual offensive efficiency was not needed tonight, his five-point output on zero for two shooting left a lot to be desired.
It is well-documented that Gobert is wholly incapable of creating offensive looks for himself (barring turnaround fadeaways in game sevens). This leaves the onus on other players to facilitate clean passes and lobs for him to contribute to scoring in the paint. Though it was not necessary for Gobert to be an offensive force in this game, much of the sustained success of this team will be predicated on him being at least somewhat of a factor on the offensive end.
We are all aware of the prolific passing capabilities of LaMelo Ball, and we have seen other players on the roster be unafraid to give Gobert lobs during the preseason. Expect more of that to come as the season progresses.
The Timberwolves will also need more out of new power forward Trey Lyles (one point on zero for one shooting, one rebound, and three fouls), who did more cardio than contribution in his 13 minutes of play. Lyles did not look out of place, though he will have to give more than that in order to maintain his spot in the rotation.
If Lyles cannot withstand the pressure against bigger teams like the Heat, expect Jaylen Clark or newcomer and preseason darling Cody Williams to slowly increase their minutes in the rotation. We are a long way off from Williams rotation minutes becoming a reality, though a team with legitimate championship aspirations like Minnesota will have little room to spare in giving minutes to players that are contributing meaningfully.
Up Next
The Timberwolves play another game against the Eastern Conference in the same state. They visit Paolo Banchero and an Orlando Magic team fresh off of a close defeat to the Atlanta Hawks thanks to a 31-point performance from our old friend Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Catch the game on Friday, October 23rd at 6:00 PM CT on DAZN-MIN.
And the game’s opening play foreshadowed what turned into a dominant 127-105 Lakers’ win over the Warriors Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers prepares to shoot a free throw during a game against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
As the shot clock was winding down, Doncic drove past Warriors star Draymond Green into the paint before tossing a lob to Lakers marquee offseason acquisition Walker Kessler for an alley-oop dunk to give the Lakers’ an early lead.
That scene – the 7-foot-2 center dunking – played routinely throughout both team’s season opener.
Kessler finished with 10 dunks in his team debut with the Lakers.
His dunk toal was the most by a Laker since Shaquille O’Neal in 2003, according to ESPN, and the most dunk by a player in the league’s play-by-play era (since 1996-97).
Kessler finished with 26 points on 12-of-12 shooting to go with 9 rebounds and 2 blocked shots.
Los Angeles Lakers center Walker Kessler dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
He joined Wilt Chamberlain (34 points on 14-14 shooting on March 11, 1969) as the only players in franchise history to record a perfect shooting night on at least 12 field goal attempts.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves, left, tries to drive past Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Austin Reaves added 23 points on 6-of-11 shooting to go with 6 assists and 4 rebounds.
After allowing the Warriors to score 33 points in the opening quarter, with Warriors superstar Steph Curry nearly half of his team’s points (16) in the first, the Lakers tightened up their defense in the second and third, allowing a combined 35 points in the middle quarters.
Curry finished with a team-high 23 points, playing just 21 minutes after the Lakers led by as many as 35 points early in the fourth.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 21: Walker Kessler #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles during the game against the Golden State Warriors on October 21, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers opened up the season with a thorough beatdown of the Warriors, winning 127-105 on Tuesday.
LA led by as many as 35 points and scored 103 points in the opening three quarters. They finished the night shooting 58.2% from the field while forcing 16 turnovers, leading to 25 points.
The game opened with Luka Dončić connecting with Walker Kessler on an alley-oop dunk, a recurring trend on the night. Kessler scored six of LA’s first 10 points as the Lakers built a five-point lead.
Steph Curry quickly erased that lead, putting Golden State up by three. He had 10 points.
Luka made two triples and entered double figures with 10 points. With 55 seconds left, there had been eight lead changes and 10 ties in the quarter. Both teams were having a solid offensive start. Brandon Williams had eight points off the bench for the Warriors.
Jake LaRavia drained a 3-pointer that gave the Lakers a one-point lead at the end of the first.
Austin Reaves started the second period with a floater off the backboard for two. Curry was fouled on the other end and made both free throws. Quentin Grimes had four points off the bench, bringing energy and stellar production.
The Lakers were up by four.
Luka connected with LaRavia for a wild layup. LaRavia had eight points off the bench for LA. Gui Santos shaved some points off the deficit for the Warriors, scoring five points. However, Los Angeles regained control and extended their lead to five.
LaRavia, Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili combined for 18 off the bench. Luka then proceeded to take over the rest of the quarter, jawing back and forth with Golden State’s rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, who earned a technical foul in the process.
Luka banked in a ridiculous half-court shot to beat the halftime buzzer, putting the purple and gold up 14 points.
The purple and gold completely owned the quarter, finishing it up by 34 points. They shot 59% from the field.
Third quarter: Lakers 102, Warriors 68
LA crushed GS in the third 36-16. They’ve outscored the Warriors 49-20 since Yaxel got into it with Luka. Doncic has 28/8/7. Walker Kessler has 22 points (10 dunks) and 8 rebounds. AR has 19 pts. LA has 10 steals and 25 pts off TOs.
Williams stole the ball and scored on a layup to start the final frame for the Warriors. Matisse Thybulle responded with a three on the other end.
Santos scored four points for Golden State, trying to help shave some points off the large deficit. With 8:57 left, Golden State emptied more of their bench. LA then emptied their bench with 6:01 left.
Key Player Stats
Luka finished with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Reaves ended with 23 points and six assists. Kessler scored 26 points with nine rebounds. He is the first Laker since Wilt Chamberlain in 1969 to shoot 100% from the field on at least 12 shot attempts.
Grimes logged 10 points with four assists. LaRavia had 10 points with two assists. Mamu pitched in with five points and four rebounds. Ziaire Williams finished with seven points, four rebounds and two assists.
The Lakers’ next game will be against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday at 7:00 PM PT.
MEMPHIS, TN - OCTOBER 21: Ty Jerome #2 of the Memphis Grizzlies celebrates during the game against the Utah Jazz on October 21, 2026 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Grant Burke/NBAE via Getty Images) | Photo by Grant Burke/NBAE via Getty Images
No former Virginia player has ever scored as many points as Ty Jerome did Wednesday night in the Memphis Grizzlies’ season opener. His 45 points surpassed the previous record of 44 points set by Trey Murphy in February.
It is also a new career high for Jerome, outdoing his 33-point performance on Jan. 24, 2025, when he was a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
It was quite the season debut from the 29-year-old who suffered an ankle injury that prematurely ended his season last spring. Jerome shot an efficient 17-of-25 from the floor, including 5-of-10 from three, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out six assists to just one turnover. His performance led the Grizzlies to a 123-103 victory over the Utah Jazz.
Jerome scored Memphis’ first two buckets of the game, draining a pair of mid-range floaters from the right elbow. A few minutes later he made a pair of threes in quick succession before dishing out his first two assists of the night and draining a trio of free throws to close out the first quarter.
He added another six points and two assists over the first four minutes of the second quarter, and the Grizzlies took a 64-51 lead into halftime. Jerome then drained a three-pointer one minute into the third quarter and another just seconds into the fourth quarter.
The highlight of the night, however, came a few minutes later when Jerome launched a 33-footer from the logo, drained it and waved goodbye to the Jazz, sending the FedEx Forum crowd into a frenzy.
He capped off his best-ever scoring night with a floater and a pair of free throws over the final minutes, helping close out the 20-point win for the Grizzlies and breaking Murphy’s record less than nine months after it was set.
Next up, Jerome will face one of his former teams when Memphis visits Golden State on Friday night.
PORTLAND, OREGON - OCTOBER 21: Ja Morant #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers steals the ball from Devin Booker #15 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Moda Center on October 21, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns opened the 2026–27 season on Wednesday night, and you almost wish they could’ve waited one more day. Or perhaps this was the Valley Suns rather than the Phoenix Suns. Whatever team showed up in Portland got absolutely blasted by the Trail Blazers, losing by 41 points, 124–83.
Phoenix trailed by as many as 52 points. Portland outscored the Suns 43–12 in the opening quarter, and the rout was officially on. The Blazers dominated Phoenix in every facet of the game, turning what was supposed to be an exciting season opener into an absolute embarrassment.
Want some stats? Here you go. The Suns shot 35.7% from the field and a miserable 19.4% from beyond the arc. Damian Lillard made as many three-pointers (6) as the entire Phoenix roster combined. Portland generated 26 second-chance points compared to just 12 for the Suns and dominated the glass, outrebounding Phoenix 56–39.
Devin Booker led the team with 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting, but even he couldn’t escape the carnage, finishing with a team-worst plus/minus of -43.
Khaman Maluach earned the start at center, and much like the rest of his teammates, he failed to impress. And it appears the starting job could remain his for the foreseeable future, as Oso Ighodaro exited the game early with what appeared to be a right hip injury.
There isn’t much to salvage from a performance like this. The shooting was atrocious, the rebounding was nonexistent, and the defensive identity Phoenix spent an entire season establishing was nowhere to be found. It’s one game, and perspective matters over an 82-game season. But when you spend an offseason preaching continuity, growth, and accountability, getting embarrassed by 41 points on opening night is a hell of a way to introduce yourself.
The Suns have plenty of time to respond. They also have plenty to answer for.
Game Flow
First Half
The excitement. The anticipation. You can barely contain yourself because Phoenix Suns basketball is finally back. And what happens? The Portland Trail Blazers open the game on an 11–0 run as the Suns start 0-of-3 from the field, turn the ball over once, and get outrebounded 5–1 right out of the gate. Portland opened 3-of-5 from beyond the arc while Phoenix started 0-of-1. Less than three minutes into the season, the Suns found themselves in an all-too-familiar position from a year ago: digging themselves out of a hole.
The Suns called a timeout, but the drought continued. Brick after brick after brick. Devin Booker midrange? Brick. Miles Bridges threes? Brick. Maluach in transition? Brick.
Phoenix made its first substitutions with 7:32 remaining in the first quarter. The Suns still hadn’t scored a point and were trailing 17–0. They continued getting destroyed on the glass, seemingly incapable of securing a rebound. Devin Booker and Ja Morant got into a bit of a shouting match, which was nice to see. A little fire. But you know what would’ve been even nicer? Some points. Double technical fouls were assessed, and the misery continued.
Every loose ball seemed to find its way into Portland’s hands. The energy that this Suns team has become known for was completely and utterly nonexistent. Deni Avdija misses a pair of free throws? Doesn’t matter. Dillon Brooks gets called for a loose ball foul while boxing out. The team was completely out of sorts. Phoenix had committed five fouls, and Portland was already shooting free throws before the Blazers had even been whistled for their first foul. Oh, and the Suns still hadn’t scored a single point.
That finally changed with 5:54 remaining in the first quarter, when Devin Booker connected on a free throw to give Phoenix its first point of the season. The score? Portland 21, Phoenix 1.
Damian Lillard, who missed last season with an Achilles injury, knocked down a three-pointer with two minutes left in the first quarter, pushing Portland’s lead to 30. What is this? Game 7 in 2022 against the Mavs?
The damage after one? Without a doubt, it was a quarter from hell. Everything that could’ve gone wrong practically did. The Suns surrendered 43 points to a Blazers team that shot 52% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc, connecting on 8-of-16 three-point attempts. Portland also dominated the glass, grabbing 21 rebounds compared to Phoenix’s six.
Meanwhile, the Suns went 0-of-7 from deep and a miserable 4-of-20 from the field. They surrendered 10 second-chance points while generating none of their own. Portland scored five points off turnovers, while Phoenix failed to produce a single point in that category. When the dust settled on one of the ugliest opening quarters imaginable, the Suns trailed 43–12.
Welcome to the 2026–27 season.
The Suns finally connected on their first three-pointer with nine minutes remaining in the second quarter, courtesy of Jalen Green. Phoenix opened the period on a 10–2 run, chipping away at the deficit and cutting Portland’s lead to 23 points after scoring 22 of its own. But true to form, the Blazers responded with a 12–2 run of their own, extending their advantage back to 33 points.
Miles Bridges picked up a flagrant foul after throwing a block into Donovan Clingan that looked more like an offensive lineman protecting his quarterback than a basketball player attempting to make a play.
And as if things couldn’t get any worse, Oso Ighodaro was clearly laboring in the final seconds of the first half, grabbing at his right hip before heading directly to the Suns locker room. The one position where Phoenix already lacked meaningful depth was suddenly looking even thinner. He would not return.
Halftime mercifully arrived with the Suns trailing 72–39. Phoenix was shooting 3-of-14 from beyond the arc and 13-of-42 overall, a miserable 31% from the field. Devin Booker led the team with 10 points on 2-of-6 shooting.
The Blazers scored 43 points in the first quarter.
Meanwhile, Damian Lillard had already connected on 4-of-6 three-point attempts for 17 first-half points. Toumani Camara added 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting, while Ja Morant contributed 10 points and six assists, shooting 4-of-6 from the field and 2-of-3 from deep. The Suns were outrebounded 33–17 in the first half, while Portland recorded 21 assists compared to Phoenix’s eight.
Pitiful basketball by the Suns.
Second Half
Coming out of the locker room, the Suns still couldn’t match the energy of the rolling Trail Blazers. It was clear that the combination of Damian Lillard and Ja Morant in the backcourt, Donovan Clingan’s size in the interior, and Deni Avdija’s ability to knife through a defense was simply overwhelming for Phoenix.
Miles Bridges looked completely lost on both ends of the floor. Defensively, he continually collapsed into the paint, abandoning his perimeter assignments and leaving Portland shooters wide open from beyond the arc. Wash, rinse, repeat.
Dillon Brooks started to come alive a little in the third quarter, scoring seven of the Suns’ first 14 points while going 3-of-3 from the field. But every time it felt like Phoenix was building some momentum, Portland would respond by knocking down another three.
With 1:13 remaining in the third quarter, the Blazers did it! They pushed their lead to 40 points! Devin Booker responded with a jumper, but naturally, Portland came right back and buried another three.
After three quarters, Portland 107, Phoenix 66.
After four, the Suns lose.
Up Next
The Suns head home as they host the Golden State Warriors in their home opener on Saturday night.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 21: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the second quarter of the game against Marcus Smart #36 and Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on October 21, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (0-1) dropped their season opener to the Houston Rockets (1-0) on Wednesday, losing 128-110 in Houston. Cooper Flagg led all scorers with 32 points, while Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. led the Rockets with 30 points each.
It was a disappointing start to the season for the new look Mavericks, as Houston jumped on Dallas early and it was a blowout before halftime. The Mavericks improved significantly in the second half, but the damage was already done — despite their improved play after halftime, the Mavericks never got the lead to single-digits, attempting to claw back from a 37-point deficit.
There was a lot of bad, but some good too. Here are three numbers that stood out from the season-opening thud.
38-12: Houston’s second-quarter scoring advantage
Believe it or not, the Mavericks actually outscored the Rockets if you combined the first, third, and fourth quarters of this game. Unfortunately for Dallas, basketball is played with four quarters and the one quarter the Mavericks lost big, they lost *really* big.
Houston blitzed Dallas to the tune of 38-12 in the second quarter, and that really decided the entire game. The Rockets repeatedly got out on the fast break, as the Mavericks offense coughed up turnovers and missed three pointers, giving the Rockets ample opportunities to run out in transition. The Rockets finished the game with 29 fastbreak points, with the majority of those picked up in the second quarter.
4: Marcus Sasser 3-pointers
In his debut for the Mavericks, DFW native Marcus Sasser looked outstanding, scoring 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Sasser was responsible for over a third of the Mavericks’ made triples on Wednesday. The team made just 11 total in the loss.
It was a bright spot in an otherwise dreadful shooting night for the Mavericks. Dallas went 11-of-37 from three (30 percent), so Sasser’s shooting was a sight for sore eyes. Sasser has a quick release and isn’t gun-shy — he had a nice pull-up make in the fourth quarter while bringing the ball up in transition, and the Rockets failed to stop the ball. Sasser also had a nice three-point play the hard way to go along with his hot shooting from outside.
It’s just one game, but it’s the type of performance that demands more minutes. Might we suggest a few of the minutes that new head coach Dusty May gave to Zaccharie Risacher? May played a lot of guys tonight and was attempting to mix and match a bunch of different lineups. Hopefully, whenever May settles on a set rotation, Sasser is a big part of it.
44-33: Rockets’ rebounding advantage
Talking points about the Mavericks strengths and weaknesses this summer didn’t really touch on the Mavericks rebounding — with Dallas sporting such a large (literally) roster, with forwards and bigs plentiful, I guess no one really considered the team could be bad at rebounding.
It’s just one game, but it was a pretty deflating effort on the boards. Houston had 17 offensive rebounds, despite the Mavericks playing a rotation that included center Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington and Cooper Flagg at the wing, and Morez Johnson Jr. as the backup center. Gafford had two defensive rebounds in 22 minutes. That’s not good enough. Washington had three defensive rebounds in 31 minutes. That is also not good enough.
Gafford has quietly not been a great defensive rebounder for his career, so this isn’t all that shocking. But this means others are going to have to step up, and Flagg and Washington combining for nine rebounds probably isn’t enough to make up the built-in Gafford deficit.
It doesn’t take much to get Lakers superstar Luka Doncic going.
Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg learned that the hard way Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena in his early “welcome to the league” moment.
Yaxel Lendeborg of the Golden State Warriors and Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers chirped back and forth for most of the second quarter. NBAE via Getty Images
Doncic and Lendeborg spent most of the second quarter talking trash to each other after the former Michigan Wolverwine was called for a shooting foul against the Slovenian guard.
The chirping continued even when Lendeborg subbed out of the game, with Doncic going out of his way late in the second to talk to the 6-foot-9 forward while he was on the bench.
Luka Doncic banks in a halfcourt 3 and immediately goes back to chirping at Yaxel Lendeborg. pic.twitter.com/LraBprOgbO
The punctuation mark to the jawing came right before halftime, when Doncic nailed a buzzer-beating halfcourt shot to give the Lakers a 66-52 lead going into the game’s break, with the Lakers winning the quarter 32-19.
Doncic scored 23 first-half points, 10 of which came in the second quarter.
Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg got an early “welcome to the league” moment. NBAE via Getty ImagesLos Angeles Lakers forward/guard Luka Doncic, left, was on fire to start the season opener. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
The 3-pointer ended a 17-4 run for the Lakers.
And just like most of the quarter, Doncic went back to doing one of the things he does best: Talk trash after a big play.
Maybe Lendeborg, who was playing in his first NBA game after being the No. 11 pick in June’s NBA draft, will think twice before waking up the best that is Doncic.
