NBA-No LeBron, no problem as Lakers blow out Warriors to open season

LOS ANGELES, Oct 21 (Reuters) Luka Doncic and newly acquired center Walker Kessler led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 127-105 rout of the Golden State Warriors in their season-opener on Wednesday ​in their first game since LeBron James departure. The Lakers began ‌the new campaign after an offseason of major change, including James exit and a sale of the franchise. James, who led the Lakers to the 2020 NBA title and became the league s all-time leading scorer while with the team, has signed with the Philadelphia ‌76ers. Golden ​State s Stephen Curry scored 16 points in a ⁠back-and-forth start, but the Warriors ⁠lost momentum when coach Steve Kerr opted to rest the 38-year-old guard late in the first quarter. Curry returned in the second quarter but was unable to break the Lakers grip on the game and they ​ran away with it in the third. Doncic, who had 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, closed the first half with a high-arcing ⁠shot from beyond half court at the ⁠buzzer. He then ex