Walker Kessler Goes Perfect From the Floor in Dominant Lakers Debut

Walker Kessler could hardly have scripted a better regular-season debut with the Los Angeles Lakers. The new Lakers center scored 26 points on a perfect 12-for-12 shooting Wednesday night and grabbed nine rebounds as Los Angeles routed the Golden State Warriors 127-105 at Crypto.com Arena. Kessler also blocked two shots, giving the Lakers an immediate glimpse of why they invested heavily in adding him to their new core.

Kessler’s efficiency was remarkable: 11 of his 12 field goals were dunks, many created by instant chemistry with Luka Dončić. Dončić finished with 28 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, while Austin Reaves added 23 points and six assists. Los Angeles led by as many as 35 and turned a one-point advantage after the first quarter into a comfortable opening-night win. Golden State’s Stephen Curry scored 23 points, but only seven came after his 16-point first quarter.

The bigger takeaway for Los Angeles is how naturally Kessler fit beside Dončić. The Lakers needed a center who could protect the rim, rebound and finish plays without requiring the offense to run through him. On opening night, Kessler checked every box. One game does not settle how far this rebuilt Lakers roster can go, but a perfect shooting night against Golden State was an emphatic first statement from their new starting center.