NBA-No LeBron, no problem as Lakers blow out Warriors to open season
LOS ANGELES, Oct 21 (Reuters) Luka Doncic and newly acquired center Walker Kessler led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 127-105 rout of the Golden State Warriors in their season-opener on Wednesday in their first game since LeBron James departure. The Lakers began the new campaign after an offseason of major change, including James exit and a sale of the franchise. James, who led the Lakers to the 2020 NBA title and became the league s all-time leading scorer while with the team, has signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. Golden State s Stephen Curry scored 16 points in a back-and-forth start, but the Warriors lost momentum when coach Steve Kerr opted to rest the 38-year-old guard late in the first quarter. Curry returned in the second quarter but was unable to break the Lakers grip on the game and they ran away with it in the third. Doncic, who had 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, closed the first half with a high-arcing shot from beyond half court at the buzzer. He then ex