Kessler goes 12 for 12 as the Lakers rout the Warriors 127-105 in their opener

Walker Kessler made all 12 of his shots and scored 26 points in his Lakers debut Wednesday night, and Los Angeles beat the Golden State Warriors 127-105 at Crypto.com Arena in the first game of the post-LeBron James era. Luka Doncic scored 28 in three quarters and Austin Reaves added 23.

Kessler also grabbed nine rebounds and blocked two shots. According to the Associated Press, his 12-for-12 night is the second-most makes without a miss in Lakers history, behind Wilt Chamberlain's 14 for 14 in March 1969. The NBA said his 10 dunks were the most by a Laker since Shaquille O'Neal in 2003. The 7-foot-2 center had not played a competitive game since last Halloween because of injury, and the Lakers sent a large package of draft capital to Utah to get him.

The game stayed close for one quarter. The Lakers led 34-33 after 12 minutes, then held Golden State to 19 points in the second and took a 66-52 lead into halftime. Doncic scored 23 in the first half and finished it by banking in a half-court shot at the buzzer. AP reported he spent much of the half jawing with Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, who drew a technical foul.

Los Angeles won the third quarter 36-16 to lead 102-68, and Doncic sat the entire fourth. He finished with eight rebounds, seven assists, three steals and five 3-pointers in his first competitive game since April 2. Reaves went 10 for 10 at the line. Jake LaRavia and Quentin Grimes scored 10 each off the bench, though LaRavia left limping in the fourth quarter, per AP.

The Lakers shot 46 of 81 and outscored Golden State 66-56 in the paint. Their largest lead was 35.

Curry opened his 18th season with 23 points on 7-of-15 shooting and made all seven free throws. Brandon Williams scored 14, Lendeborg had 12 in his debut as the 11th overall pick, Gui Santos added 12 and Gary Payton II scored 10. The Warriors went 8 of 36 from 3.

Golden State was short-handed. Brandin Podziemski sat with back soreness, and Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porzingis and Moses Moody are out with long-term injuries. The Lakers played without Collin Sexton (calf) and first-round pick Cameron Carr (oblique).

Up next: the Lakers host the Clippers on Friday, and the Warriors host Memphis the same night.