- Oct 16, 2026
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SportsMafia Wire graphic. Team logos and player headshots via ESPN.
The Los Angeles Lakers opened their season with a 127-105 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, building a 35-point lead behind explosive offensive quarters of 32, 34 and 36 points.
Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg made his professional debut as a starting wing, drawing the primary assignment against Lakers star Luka Doncic. According to ESPN tracking statistics, Lendeborg limited Doncic to 1-of-6 shooting while serving as the main defender.
Tensions escalated late in the second quarter after Doncic drew a shooting foul on Lendeborg and exchanged words. Lendeborg called the move "weak ass shit," prompting officials and players to intervene. Warriors coach Steve Kerr briefly removed the rookie, but returned him after Doncic hit a jumper and gestured toward the bench. Lendeborg later received a technical foul from official James Capers for yelling at Doncic. At halftime, Doncic drained a 48-foot heave and laughed in Lendeborg's direction.
Lendeborg, the first Warriors rookie to start on opening night since James Wiseman in 2020, finished with 12 points in 29 minutes. The Warriors were missing injured veterans Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody. The teams meet again Oct. 30 in San Francisco.
Source: ESPN - Thu Oct 22, 2:52 AM ET
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).