Event / Sports

NBA 2026-27 Season

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The 2026-27 NBA season began on October 21, 2026, with the Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Golden State Warriors 127-105. Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg guarded Luka Doncic for much of the game, and a late second-quarter exchange led to a technical foul on Lendeborg. Both players later commented on the matchup, and the teams are scheduled to meet again on October 30 in San Francisco.

3 reported locations
Geography of the reported facts
  1. New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
  2. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
  3. Los Angeles, California, United States

The story so far

Daily activity

17 articles
9 articles

2026-10-23 to 2026-10-25 · UTC publication dates

Coverage begins 23 Oct, 02:22 UTC

Follow the documented timeline or explore the related reporting.

What happened

The facts
  1. Obi Toppin scores 20 points off the bench for Pacers

    Obi Toppin contributed 20 points off the bench for the Indiana Pacers in their 123-120 season-opening win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

    1 corroborating report

  2. Tyrese Haliburton returns to regular-season NBA action after 486 days

    Tyrese Haliburton returned to regular-season NBA play for the Indiana Pacers in their season opener, 486 days after suffering a torn Achilles tendon. He had missed the entire 2025-26 season.

    1 corroborating report

  3. Pascal Siakam scores 30 points for Pacers

    Pascal Siakam led the Indiana Pacers with 30 points in their 123-120 season-opening win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

    1 corroborating report

  4. Andrew Nembhard scores 18 points for Pacers

    Andrew Nembhard added 18 points for the Indiana Pacers in their 123-120 season-opening win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

    1 corroborating report

  5. Haliburton tore Achilles in Game 7 of 2025 NBA Finals against Thunder

    Tyrese Haliburton suffered a torn Achilles tendon during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, after having been dealing with a right calf strain.

    1 corroborating report

  6. Pacers defeat Pelicans 123-120 in season opener in New Orleans

    The Indiana Pacers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 123-120 in both teams' 2026-27 season opener at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. The win was Indiana's first of the season.

    1 corroborating report

  7. Haliburton drives for layup and draws foul for three-point play in fourth quarter

    With the score tied at 116 in the fourth quarter, Tyrese Haliburton drove past Trey Murphy III for a layup. On the next possession he drew a foul from Herb Jones and completed a three-point play, helping Indiana take control of the game.

    1 corroborating report

  8. Haliburton becomes emotional in postgame broadcast interview

    After the Pacers' season-opening win over the Pelicans, Tyrese Haliburton became emotional during a postgame interview with the Indiana broadcast while reflecting on his return and the long rehabilitation process.

    1 corroborating report

  9. Haliburton scores 23 points with 12 assists in 34 minutes

    Tyrese Haliburton recorded 23 points and 12 assists in 34 minutes, shooting 53.3 percent from the field and grabbing two rebounds in the Pacers' 123-120 season-opening win over the Pelicans.

    1 corroborating report

  10. Official assesses technical foul on Lendeborg for verbal exchange with Doncic

    With 31 seconds left in the second quarter, official James Capers assessed a technical foul on Lendeborg after he continued yelling at Doncic during a transition possession. Lendeborg had four personal fouls in the game.

    1 corroborating report

  11. Lendeborg says he lost respect for Doncic after game

    After the game, Lendeborg said he had lost all respect for Doncic, citing Doncic's foul-seeking, flopping, and complaining to officials during the contest. Lendeborg said he had previously admired Doncic from watching highlights.

    1 corroborating report

  12. Lendeborg tells Doncic during game that he 'sucks' and cannot score on him

    Lendeborg said during the game that he told Doncic he 'sucks' and could not score on him, and that he used profanity during the exchanges that led to his technical foul.

    1 corroborating report

  13. Doncic pump fake draws shooting foul on Lendeborg late in second quarter

    Late in the second quarter, Doncic pump-faked Lendeborg into a shooting foul near the top of the key. Doncic then spoke to Lendeborg after the whistle, and the two were separated by officials and players as tensions escalated.

    1 corroborating report

  14. Doncic makes 48-foot half-court buzzer-beater at end of second quarter

    As time expired at the end of the second quarter, Doncic made a 48-foot half-court shot that bounced off the backboard, extending the Lakers' lead to 14 points. Doncic then pointed and laughed at Lendeborg, the nearest defender.

    1 corroborating report

  15. Lendeborg holds Doncic to 1-of-6 shooting as primary defender

    As the primary defender on Doncic, Lendeborg held him to 1-of-6 shooting, according to ESPN tracking statistics. The Lakers' offense still scored 32, 34, and 36 points in the first three quarters, building a 35-point lead.

    1 corroborating report

  16. Doncic says he did not talk back to avoid technical fouls

    After the game, Doncic said Lendeborg was talking excessively but that he did not respond because he is not trying to receive technical fouls this season.

    1 corroborating report

  17. Lakers defeat Warriors 127-105 in season opener

    The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors 127-105 in the teams' season opener in Los Angeles. Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.

    1 corroborating report

  18. Warriors play without Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody due to injuries

    The Warriors were without Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody, who were both injured, during the season opener against the Lakers. This led to Lendeborg being assigned as the primary defender on Doncic for much of the game.

    1 corroborating report

  19. Lakers outscore Warriors 36-16 in third quarter

    The Lakers outscored the Warriors 36-16 in the third quarter of the season opener, extending their lead after halftime.

    1 corroborating report

  20. Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg makes NBA debut as a starter

    Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg made his NBA debut in the season opener, starting at wing. He became the first Warriors rookie to start on opening night since James Wiseman in 2020. Lendeborg, the No. 11 pick in the 2026 draft, scored 12 points in 29 minutes.

    1 corroborating report

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