Luka Doncic’s Brilliance Falls Short as Lakers Lose Season Opener

Los Angeles, CA — The Los Angeles Lakers began the 2025 NBA season without their star player LeBron James, sidelined with a right-side sciatica injury. James is expected to miss the next three to four weeks, putting added pressure on Luka Doncic to lead the Lakers in their season opener against the Golden State Warriors.

Despite Doncic’s remarkable performance, the Lakers fell to the Warriors, 119-109. Doncic scored 43 points on 17-of-27 shooting but narrowly missed a triple-double, finishing with 12 rebounds and nine assists. However, he struggled from beyond the arc, making only 2 of his 10 three-point attempts and committing three turnovers.

The absence of LeBron James was felt particularly in the second half, as the Lakers struggled defensively. The Warriors outscored the Lakers by ten points in the third quarter (35-25), which enabled them to take control of the game. Only Austin Reaves matched Doncic’s energy on the offensive end, contributing 26 points, while center Deandre Ayton scored just 10 points and committed four turnovers.

On the opposing side, the Warriors were led by Jimmy Butler, who scored 31 points and shot 50% from the field. Stephen Curry also added 23 points in the victory. Doncic got the scoring started early for the Lakers with a mid-range fadeaway jumper on his first possession.

As the season progresses, Doncic will need to not only continue his scoring prowess but also enhance his defensive performance—especially against teams with high-powered backcourts like the Warriors. The Lakers will need to find their rhythm without James and rely heavily on their other stars to step up in his absence.