Lakers Open 2025-26 Season With 119-109 Loss To Warriors Amid Depth Concerns

The Los Angeles Lakers opened their 2025-26 NBA season with a 119-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors, highlighting ongoing struggles from the preseason that carried into the regular season. Without LeBron James, sidelined with sciatica, the team showed disjointed play, especially in the third quarter which has been a recurring issue, as confirmed by head coach JJ Redick. Luka Dončić was a standout, scoring 43 points with strong overall stats, while Austin Reaves contributed 26 points and nine assists, but the rest of the team failed to provide sufficient offensive support. The Lakers were hampered by high turnovers (19 total), poor three-point shooting (25%), and weak free-throw performance (60%), which allowed the Warriors to maintain control after rallies. Newcomers like Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton showed some energy but struggled with consistency, and Rui Hachimura was inconsistent, highlighting the team's need to improve cohesion and depth while James is out. The Lakers will look to improve as they continue their season and hope for James' return by mid-November.