Jimmy Butler scored 31 points, Stephen Curry added 23 and the Golden State Warriors overcame Luka Doncic’s 43-point performance to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 119-109 on Tuesday night in both teams' season opener.

Warriors’ NCAA champion rookie thrives next to Stephen Curry in NBA debut, win vs. Lakers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Dončić is still just 26 years old, but he understands the responsibilities inherent in his role as the centerpiece of the Lakers’ next era, and he’s trying to meet them. He played a role in improving the Lakers’ roster during the summer by lobbying Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart to join him.

Luka Dončić put forth a remarkable effort on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, but it wasn’t enough to secure a victory for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Golden State Warriors. As the NBA season commenced for 2025-26, the Warriors triumphed with a score of 119-109, showcasing their depth and experience in the absence of LeBron James.

This was Game 1 of 82 yet the importance of this start for Kuminga can't be understated, especially when compared with the alternatives.

Kevin Durant will make his Houston Rockets debut against the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, with whom Durant started his 15-time All-Star career. A new and improved Luka Dončić is embarking on his first full season with the Los Angeles Lakers against a Golden State Warriors team that's equipped with an aging but championship-hungry trio of Stephen Curry,

The Rockets and Thunder may have just given us the best season opener in NBA history. Houston controlled most of regulation, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got hot in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime.