Lakers Fall 119-109 to Warriors Without LeBron Despite Doncic’s 43 Points/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Luka Doncic dropped 43 points in his Lakers season opener, nearly achieving a triple-double, but it wasn’t enough as Los Angeles fell 119-109 to the Golden State Warriors. With LeBron James sidelined by sciatica, the Lakers struggled to maintain cohesion and fell apart in the third quarter. Despite Doncic’s dominant performance, poor shooting and turnovers cost them.
Lakers Season Opener Recap + Quick Looks
- Luka Doncic scored 43 points, with 12 rebounds and 9 assists.
- Lakers lost 119-109 to Warriors in season opener.
- LeBron James missed the game due to sciatica.
- Doncic went 15-of-17 inside the arc, 2-of-10 on threes.
- Third-quarter collapse marked the turning point.
- Austin Reaves scored 26 points but started slow.
- Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent struggled offensively (combined 4-of-10).
- Coach JJ Redick admitted the team misses LeBron’s presence.
- Deandre Ayton underutilized in the offense, Doncic took blame.
Deep Look: Luka Doncic’s 43 Points Not Enough in Lakers’ Opening Loss Without LeBron
LOS ANGELES — October 22, 2025 – Luka Doncic delivered a powerhouse performance in his Los Angeles Lakers season debut, scoring 43 points and nearly notching a triple-double. But even that stellar effort wasn’t enough as the Lakers fell 119-109 to the Golden State Warriors, revealing the early challenges of competing without LeBron James.
Doncic’s offensive explosion was his third-highest scoring night in a Lakers uniform, paired with 12 rebounds and 9 assists. But after the game, he needed extended postgame treatment, delaying his media availability by over an hour.
The team did not clarify whether the delay was due to physical strain, but given Doncic’s workload, the question hung in the air.
“I think there was a lot of positive things tonight, and obviously a lot of things we’ve got to work on,” Doncic said. “But my confidence is fine.”
Life Without LeBron: Possibilities and Pitfalls
With LeBron James out for several weeks due to sciatica, the Lakers are forced to find new rhythm and leadership on both ends of the court. Head coach JJ Redick acknowledged the difficulty of adjusting to life without the team’s veteran anchor.
“It’s hard to forget about LeBron,” Redick said. “Sometimes I catch myself thinking, ‘Oh my God, we’re going to get LeBron back at some point.’ But right now, we’ve got to make this group work.”
Redick admitted he wished he had James available when the Lakers struggled against Golden State’s zone defense during a scoreless stretch in the first half.
Doncic Dominates Inside the Paint
Doncic attacked the basket relentlessly, going 13-of-14 in the paint and 15-of-17 inside the 3-point arc. His ability to slice through the Warriors’ interior defense was undeniable.
“When I attack the paint, there are good things,” Doncic said. “I’ve just got to more attack the paint and then go from there.”
Despite some hip discomfort during the game, Doncic credited improved conditioning for helping him manage the Warriors’ pace.
Yet, when Doncic kicked the ball out to open shooters, the results were underwhelming. Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent combined to go 4-of-10 from the field — all on 3-point attempts — in 64 minutes of play.
“He gets a lot of attention, so we’ll get a lot of wide-open 3s from him,” Hachimura said. “We have to be ready to shoot and make decisions.”
Turnovers, Miscommunication, and Missed Opportunities
Austin Reaves, expected to take on a larger scoring role in LeBron’s absence, struggled early with foul trouble. He bounced back in the fourth quarter, finishing with 26 points — 13 of them coming in the final period.
Turnovers plagued the Lakers all night, totaling 20. Reaves and Doncic attributed much of that to ongoing chemistry development, particularly with newly acquired center Deandre Ayton.
“I think I have to do a better job talking to him, communicating what I want, what he wants,” Doncic admitted. “I don’t think he got enough touches, so that was on me today.”
A Familiar Collapse in the Third
The game’s turning point came in the third quarter, continuing a trend that haunted the Lakers last season. Los Angeles gave up a 16-4 run and trailed by as much as 17 points. Although they cut the deficit to six in the final minutes, the comeback stalled.
“The trend I see is that we continue to be a terrible third-quarter team,” Redick said. “That was last year. That was the preseason. It’s something we’ve got to rethink.”
The coaching staff now faces the challenge of keeping the team focused and energized after halftime, especially without James setting the tone.
What’s Next for the Lakers?
The Lakers are still adjusting to the new lineup rotations, learning how to balance Doncic’s dominance with team execution. The silver lining: Doncic’s conditioning, scoring efficiency, and leadership appear stronger than ever. The concern: support players must rise to the challenge.
Until LeBron returns, Los Angeles will have to depend heavily on Doncic and develop cohesion fast if they want to keep pace in the Western Conference.
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