Lakers forward Anthony Davis shoots as Golden State Warriors center Kevon Looney, left, defends during the first half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Lakers forward LeBron James blocks a shot by Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole during the first half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Lakers guard Russell Westbrook shoots as Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody, rear, defends during the first half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Lakers forward LeBron James, top left, looks to pass the ball against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Warriors guard Steph Curry controls the ball against in front of the Lakers’ Anthony Davis, right, and Kent Bazemore during the first half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Lakers guard Rajon Rondo and Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins vie for the ball during the first half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Lakers forward LeBron James controls the ball against Warriors guard Steph Curry during the first half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The Lakers’ LeBron James steals the ball from the Warriors’ Jordan Poole during the first half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis shoots over Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala during the first half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Warriors guard Steph Curry, rear, goes to the basket under pressure from the Lakers’ Anthony Davis and LeBron James during Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)
Lakers guard Russell Westbrook is fouled by Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green during the first half of Tuesday’s season opener at Staples Center. Westbrook struggled with eight points on 4-for-13 shooting in his Lakers debut. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis drives against Golden State Warriors forward Juan Toscano-Anderson during the first half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Lakers guard Rajon Rondo goes to the basket against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Warriors forward Draymond Green, right, passes the ball while defended by Lakers forward Anthony Davis during the first half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Warriors guard Steph Curry controls the ball in front of the Lakers’ Anthony Davis, right, and Kent Bazemore during the first half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Lakers guard Russell Westbrook controls the ball as Warriors guard Steph Curry defends during the first half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Warriors guard Steph Curry drives to the basket as Lakers guard Russell Westbrook looks on during the first half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Lakers center Dwight Howard is fouled by the Warriors’ Damion Lee during the first half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony is defended by Golden State Warriors forward Juan Toscano-Anderson during the first half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
The Lakers’ LeBron James takes a 3-point shot over the Warriors’ Otto Porter Jr. during the first half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Singer Adele and NBA agent Rich Paul attend Tuesday’s season opener between the Lakers and Warriors at Staples Center. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Warriors guard Steph Curry defends against Lakers guard Rajon Rondo during the first half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
The Warriors’ Otto Porter Jr. shoots over the Lakers’ Rajon Rondo during the first half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Lakers guard Russell Westbrook struggles for the ball between Warriors guards Gary Payton II, left, and Steph Curry during the second half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Warriors forward Andre Iguodala reaches for the ball while defended by Lakers forward LeBron James during the second half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
The Lakers’ Carmelo Anthony, left, passes the ball while under pressure from the Warriors’ Andre Iguaodola during Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)
Warriors guard Jordan Poole goes to the basket between Lakers forward Anthony Davis, left, and guard Russell Westbrook during the second half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Lakers forward LeBron James drives against the Warriors’ Draymond Green during the second half of Tuesday’s season opener at Staples Center. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Actor Jack Nicholson attend Tuesday’s season opener between the Lakers and Warriors at Staples Center. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Warriors guard Jordan Poole, center, drives between Lakers forward LeBron James, left, and guard Malik Monk during the second half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Warriors guard Steph Curry drives against Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony during the second half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Injured Warriors All-Star Klay Thompson cheers from the bench during the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on October 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)during the second half of Tuesday night’s season opener against the Lakers at Staples Center. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Warriors guard Steph Curry controls the ball as the Lakers’ Avery Bradley, left, and Russell Westbrook defend during the second half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Warriors guard Steph Curry reacts to fans during the second half of Tuesday’s season opener against the Lakers at Staples Center. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Lakers guard Russell Westbrook, left, and Warriors guard Steph Curry watch the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. The Warriors won 121-114. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)vie for the ball during the second half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Warriors forward Juan Toscano-Anderson, second from left, passes the ball to guard Damion Lee, right, while defended by Lakers guard Malik Monk, left, during the second half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
The Lakers’ Russell Westbrook, right, makes a pass to Anthony Davis, left, as the Warriors’ Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins vie for the ball during Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)
Warriors guard Jordan Poole drives against Lakers forward LeBron James during the second half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Lakers forward LeBron James, right, passes the ball while defended by Warriors forward Andre Iguodala during the second half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Warriors forward Draymond Green, right, and guard Damion Lee congratulate each other during a timeout during the second half of Tuesday night’s season opener against the Lakers at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
The Lakers’ LeBron James, left, Anthony Davis, center, and Russell Westbrook show their frustration during the second half of Tuesday’s season opener against the Warriors at Staples Center. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
The Warriors’ Nemanja Bjelica (8) drives to the basket against the Lakers’ Russell Westbrook during the second half of Tuesday’s season opener at Staples Center. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Golden State Warriors guard Damion Lee, left, reacts to a call against the Lakers during the second half of Tuesday night’s season opener at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Warriors guard Steph Curry is showered with water by teammates Gary Payton II and Damion Lee as they celebrate after defeating the Lakers, 121-114, in Tuesday’s season opener at Staples Center. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Lakers forward LeBron James warms up before Tuesday night’s season opener against the Warriors at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Lakers center Dwight Howard warms up before Tuesday night’s season opener against the Warriors at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Yellow T-shirts are displayed on the Staples Center seats warms up before Tuesday night’s season opener between the Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves warms up before Tuesday night’s season opener against the Warriors at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
LOS ANGELES — It was just the first night of the Lakers’ season, but forget the slow build – why wait for the drama?
On a pull-out-the-stops kind of evening, there was a fourth-quarter comeback, a player checking in on his first day on the squad, and more than a few fast-breaks and big-time shots.
Unfortunately for the Lakers and their new star trio, they were on the wrong side of two many of the beats of a pulse-quickening regular-season opener, a 121-114 loss to the in-state rival Golden State Warriors.
It wasn’t for lack of a great show by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the stalwarts of the last two seasons and the anchors of the 2020 championship team. The established duo dropped a combined 67 points in sizzling shooting displays (28 for 49 from the floor), but their new third member Russell Westbrook suffered a dud in his first game for his hometown team.
James was frustrated in the closing minutes as the game got away from them, but he was composed in his buttoned-up black suit afterward, stressing that the Lakers’ road is a long one.
“It’s just one game,” James said. “You want to learn from it, you want to get better, but we don’t want to harp on it too much. We know we’ll get better from it and (Westbrook will) get better from it.”
The Lakers were outscored by 23 points in the 35 minutes Westbrook was on the court, which saw him notch eight points (on 4-for-13 shooting), five rebounds, four assists and four turnovers. Golden State managed a 38-29 fourth-quarter edge, led by Steph Curry’s eighth career triple-double (21 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) – his first since January of 2016, but well-supported by five other Warriors in double figures and passing that yielded 30 assists on 41 field goals.
All this was achieved with the Warriors missing the third head of their monster: All-Star guard Klay Thompson sat on the bench, still getting in condition for a midseason return to play after a two-year absence.
Both Davis and James said Westbrook was hard on himself after the game in the locker room, and they tried to lift him up. When asked if there were takeaways from his first game with the Lakers, Westbrook didn’t feel like dissecting it much.
“I’ll look at it and see,” he said. “But you know we didn’t win so there may be some stuff, but not much. At least from my perspective.”
The first defeat of the year showed that the Lakers are once again top-heavy – and that Westbrook, still blending in after the blockbuster summer trade that brought him from the Washington Wizards, isn’t yet in that upper class.
Donning his new jersey No. 6 – the digit of his Miami days – and the headband of his youth, James (34 points, 11 rebounds) turned back the clock, nailing his first three shots and pouring in points wherever he wanted. He continued his tradition of rising up for games against the Warriors and one of his top rivals in Curry, who was meek by comparison (5 for 21) struggling for open looks all night.
James’ highlight reel got rolling in the third quarter, when in short succession he tear-dropped a turnaround jumper on Andrew Wiggins, fired a one-handed touch pass to Davis, and cruised in for a breakaway dunk.
After a preseason when Davis underscored many times how excited he was to get back to the game, he showcased his enthusiasm with red-hot shooting touch (15 for 26) on his way to 30 points. With 20 of those points in the first half, Davis emphatically celebrated after big baskets and added 11 rebounds to enforce the physicality the Lakers are seeking to regain this season.
“You want to be dominant every time you touch the floor,” Davis said.
For Westbrook, the transition from preseason to regular season remained rugged. The 32-year-old guard missed his first four shots, only finally rolling in a contested layup with 4½ minutes left in the second quarter. He couldn’t convert a point-blank attempt at the rim when Curry rushed up to meet him in the third quarter, and the frustration boiled into a technical foul that marked his first fine of the season.
But even outside of Westbrook’s continuing struggles, the Lakers were gashed at the positions where injuries have hit them the hardest. They were outscored on bench points 51-26, and reserves Carmelo Anthony and Malik Monk were consistently burned on their defensive assignments.
The Warriors used a 15-5 fourth-quarter surge to take the lead, taking advantage of the Lakers’ wobbly defensive chemistry for long-range bombs and fleet-footed back cuts – the same way they pulverized them during two preseason meetings that the Lakers shrugged off as meaningless exhibitions.
With regular-season stakes on the line, Coach Frank Vogel went for a desperate move that he had said earlier was unlikely: subbing in new pickup Avery Bradley. While the veteran guard had only spent one pregame walkthrough with the team, he played out the final eight minutes of the fourth quarter, nailing a pair of corner 3-pointers while also guarding the very Warriors players he played alongside during preseason training camp.
But the move had limited payoff: Andrew Wiggins hit the dagger 3-pointer with 2:36 left, extending the Warriors’ lead to 12 points.
“Obviously, you gave up a 38-point fourth quarter, so you do that, you’re gonna lose most nights,” Vogel said. “Our defense is just not on a string yet. I thought we did a good job being up on Steph, but the backside was much better in the first half than the second half.”
Though preseason games allowed full attendance, Staples Center came alive for the first time since March 10, 2020, with a full allotment of 18,997 fans. The full house also included a particularly vibrant who’s who: Kevin Hart, Justin Bieber, Usher, Lil’ Wayne, Floyd Mayweather and pop singer Adele flanked by her boyfriend, super-agent Rich Paul. For the first time since well before the onset of the pandemic, one of the most famous and familiar courtside residents was in his assigned spot: Jack Nicholson.
On the court, it just might take the Lakers a little longer to get back where they believe they rightly belong.
'We will be fine… We've just got to continue to push, continue to get better." @AntDavis23 (33 PTS, 11 REB) on the #Lakers defensive miscues tonight against the Warriors. pic.twitter.com/0brCBOPz8Z
"We didn't finish quarters well the whole night… We gave up a 38-point fourth quarter so if you do that you're going to lose most nights." Frank Vogel with a few takeaways from tonight's loss. #LakeShowpic.twitter.com/BDQ4QQD3ZH
@Lakers 7-0 run on TNT pic.twitter.com/3PvjKFVOkU