NBA Recap: Lakers Dominate Warriors, Davis Stars on Wizards Debut

Doncic leads Lakers blowout

Luka Doncic delivered on his championship promise as the Lakers routed the Warriors, Anthony Edwards spoiled Giannis Antetokounmpo's Miami debut with 45 points, and Tyrese Haliburton made an emotional return from Achilles injury as the NBA's second night served up statement performances and fresh starts across the league.

Haliburton returns in tears, Leonard back in Toronto as NBA tips off...

Luka Doncic scored 28 points and Walker Kessler added an impressive 26 as the Los Angeles Lakers kicked off life after LeBron James with a commanding 127-105 win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.

Doncic, hailed as the future of the franchise following his arrival from Dallas in February 2025, begins the season as the team's undisputed leader after superstar James left for Philadelphia as a free agent in July.

The 27-year-old Slovenian made his intentions clear in a full-page advert in the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday, telling fans: “Tonight we start our run for a championship.”

He backed it up with a dynamic performance against a Warriors side paced by 23 points from veteran Stephen Curry.

He responded to some trash talk from Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg with a half-court three at the halftime buzzer, just one of the highlights on a night when the Lakers led by as many as 35 points.

“It was just how everybody played,” Doncic said. “I think first quarter our defense wasn't that good, but then after that we just locked in and I think everybody had fun.”

Kessler, who joined from Utah in July, enjoyed a historic debut for the Lakers, going a perfect 12-for-12 from the field with 10 dunks.

Game 1, won. https://t.co/usP3dSFqRh

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 22, 2026

“What he did today was unbelievable for us,” Doncic said.

The second night of the new campaign featured plenty of familiar faces in new surroundings.

Minnesota star Anthony Edwards poured in 45 points as the Timberwolves ruined two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo's debut for Miami with a 131-106 victory.

Edwards joined Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan as the only players to record multiple 40-point performances in season openers.

Edwards drops 45 

He combined seamlessly with new arrival LaMelo Ball, adding 10 rebounds and three assists. Edwards hit nine of the Timberwolves' 21 three-pointers, while Ball who arrived from Charlotte this offseason knocked down five triples on his way to 21 points.

“At this point, me and him are gonna be like best friends,” Edwards told ESPN in an on-court interview before sharing a beaming hug with Ball.

Antetokounmpo, the former Bucks talisman who won a championship and two MVP awards during his 13 years in Milwaukee, looked every bit the part, shooting 13-for-19 from the floor en route to 35 points and six rebounds.

But the Heat as a whole widely tipped as Eastern Conference contenders after landing Antetokounmpo had no answer for Minnesota.

“We're going to have to step up our defense,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who added Miami's offense “did not look like us.”

In Washington, Anthony Davis finally made his Wizards debut nine months after arriving from Dallas in a blockbuster trade, leading his new side to a 128-118 win over the Bucks.

Now recovered from hand and groin injuries, Davis put up 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, earning “MVP!” chants from Wizards fans who endured a league-worst 17-65 campaign last season and watched top draft pick AJ Dybantsa pick up an ankle injury in the team's preseason finale.

Trae Young, who also joined Washington last season but managed just five appearances due to injury, added 20 points and 13 assists as the Wizards secured their first opening-night victory since 2022.

Tyler Herro, acquired in the trade that sent Antetokounmpo to Miami, paced the Bucks with 24 points, while Jaime Jaquez Jr., who arrived in the same deal, chipped in 22.

It was a case of back to the future in Toronto, where the Raptors marked the return of Kawhi Leonard with a 135-92 thrashing of the Chicago Bulls.

Leonard, who guided the Raptors to their first NBA title in 2019, is back following a trade from the LA Clippers a deal delayed by a league investigation that found the Clippers and Leonard had breached salary-cap circumvention rules, resulting in heavy sanctions for the franchise.

Leonard hit five of his 17 attempts from the field but was perfect from the line, going 11-for-11 on the way to 23 points. Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley also scored 23 points apiece for Toronto, who led by as many as 48 in a wire-to-wire rout.

Haliburton's Comeback

Indiana guard Tyrese Haliburton, appearing in his first game since tearing his right Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, scored 13 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and dished out 12 assists as the Pacers held off the Pelicans 123-120 in New Orleans.

Haliburton, who put Indiana ahead for good with a driving layup with 1:23 remaining, was visibly emotional during his on-court postgame interview.

“It means a lot to be back out here,” he said, wiping away tears.

Dallas guard Kyrie Irving, featuring in his first game in more than 19 months after recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, scored 15 points for the Mavericks in a 128-110 defeat to the Houston Rockets.

1-0 😄 https://t.co/1FqQbWHupE

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) October 22, 2026

Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. both dropped 30 points apiece in Houston's first win of the season.