Walker Kessler left quite the impression Wednesday night in his Lakers debut, shooting a perfect 12-for-12 as Los Angeles defeated the Golden State Warriors 127-105 in its season opener.
In Kessler’s first regular-season game as a Laker, he finished with 26 points, nine rebounds, a perfect 12-for-12 shooting, and 10 dunks. Kessler made history that night, becoming only the second player in Lakers history to make at least 12 field goals without missing a single one. He now joins Wilt Chamberlain, who went 14-for-14 in 1969.
Luka Dončić led Los Angeles with 28 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Austin Reaves also finished with 23 points and six assists. Together, the three combined for 77 points during Wednesday’s game.
The first quarter started off competitive with the Lakers leading Golden State by just one point. L.A. then began to pull away during the middle two quarters. The Lakers outscored the Warriors 68-35 across the second and third quarters.
During the offseason, L.A. sent Utah two first-round picks and two pick swaps in the sign-and-trade to acquire Kessler before signing him to a four-year, $130 million deal. The Lakers were looking for a center who could finish Dončić’s passes, protect the rim and rebound.
“The paint is kind of closed when he’s on the court,” Dončić told the NBA.
Wednesday’s opener also marked Kessler’s return to the court nearly a year after a shoulder injury and surgery that ended his last season early.
The Lakers’ next game is set for Friday at 7 p.m. against the Clippers at Crypto.com Arena.
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