The new NBA season began with an instant classic that came down to the wire — over and over again.
The Golden State Warriors, meanwhile, ensured that the second game of the NBA opening-night doubleheader wasn’t nearly as dramatic.
On the first night of NBA games broadcast on NBC since 2002, the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder held off the Houston Rockets in double overtime, 125-124, before the Warriors later comfortably dispatched the LeBron James-less Lakers, 119-109, in Los Angeles.
In his first game with Houston since an offseason trade, Kevin Durant scored 23 points against his former team before fouling out. Alperun Sengun led Houston with 39 points in a back-and-forth game that extended to two overtimes thanks to the shot-making heroics of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who followed up last season’s Most Valuable Player campaign with 35 points.
In Los Angeles, the Lakers and Warriors combined for 39 turnovers in a sloppy opener that was played as James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, watched from the sideline due to sciatica that could keep him out for several more weeks. Luka Dončić scored 43 points for the Lakers to compensate, but when the Warriors extended a one-point halftime lead to 17 in the second half, it was because of star wing Jimmy Butler. Butler, who scored 31 points, made all 16 of his free throws, two shy of Rick Barry’s franchise record for most free throws made without a miss.
“It was huge,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “...He just controls the game out there for us.”
The Lakers challenged late in the fourth quarter to cut their deficit to just six points but Stephen Curry all but secured Golden State’s win with a 35-foot 3-pointer.
Golden State wins to open season
The Warriors have won, 119-109, to open the 2025-26 season over the Lakers. Jimmy Butler scored a team-high 31 points for Golden State, while Luka Dončić scores 43 points for the Lakers (0-1).
Steph Curry's long shot all but ends this Warriors win
Steph Curry hits a moonball 3-pointer from 35 feet to put the Warriors ahead 117-107 with 51 seconds to play. On a relatively quiet night, by his standards, Curry has scored 22 points but comes up big in the final seconds to give a bit more comfort for the Warriors, who are close to moving to 1-0 on the season.
41 points in 39 minutes for Dončić
Lakers have cut the lead...
Don't look now but the Lakers' double-digit deficit has been reduced to 105-99 with 3:59 left in the fourth quarter. The Warriors led by 15 points with 5:09 to play, but the Lakers have since scored nine unanswered by four different players. There's some energy back in the building.
Draymond Green filling the box score
Quiet atmosphere as Lakers struggle
The arena in Oklahoma City to open this NBA tipoff night was a howling cacophony as the Thunder and Rockets dueled to double overtime. In contrast, the Warriors' fairly controlling hold over the Lakers has made for a much quieter scene in Los Angeles.
The Lakers haven't given the home crowd much to cheer for with 7:50 remaining and trailing 100-84. Both teams, remarkably, made 32 field goals, yet the Warriors have made eight more 3-pointers and eight more free throws, as well.
End of third quarter: Warriors 90, Lakers 79
The Warriors have led by as many as 17 points, while the Lakers have led briefly, and only for two points. On a sloppy (33 combined turnovers), foul-filled (37 combined fouls) season opener, the Warriors have been able to repeatedly find openings for shots using their passing and off-ball movement, the kind that built the Warriors dynasty a decade ago.
Can anyone on the Lakers join Luka?
With less than two minutes left in the third, Luka Dončić has 35 of the Lakers’ 75 points. He’s also made 12 of the team’s 26 field goals.
Can anyone on Los Angeles step up and play sidekick? Austin Reaves just picked up his fifth foul, and Deandre Ayton has only six points. The Lakers are somewhat within striking distance, but they desperately need another scorer to join the party.
Lakers cannot get a stop
Golden State had scored on four consecutive possessions to lead 88-75 before finally missing for the first time in nearly two minutes of game play. The third quarter still is not over. Golden State has assisted on 22 of its 28 field goals.
Nice start to the season for Jonathan Kuminga
Jonathan Kuminga only very recently agreed to a contract with the Warriors after he was stuck in restricted free agency limbo until late September. The contract drama hasn’t seemed to affect him tonight.
Over midway through the third quarter, Kuminga has 15 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
