Luka Doncic faces loud booing in Golden State debut

Luka Doncic faced a hostile reception from the Golden State Warriors crowd during his first game at the Chase Center on Friday night. With less than one minute into the first quarter, fans began booing and chanting that the Lakers star did not belong. The sound carried through the entire opening period.

Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg watched the reaction with visible satisfaction. The tension between the two players dates back to the season opener on October 21. During that game, Lendeborg received a technical foul after admitting he saw curse words directed at Doncic. Following the loss, Lendeborg told reporters that he had lost all respect for Doncic because he was whining and complaining.

The pre-game atmosphere intensified when Lendeborg arrived at the arena dressed in a Michael Myers costume. He chose to make his presence known off the court before the tip-off. Once play began, Doncic responded immediately on the floor. His first shot of the night was a three-pointer taken directly in front of Lendeborg, giving the Lakers a 5-0 lead.

The Lakers extended their advantage with a 12-0 run before Golden State called its first timeout. By the midway point of the second quarter, Doncic had already accumulated 21 points. Lendeborg remained without a score at that moment.

The Warriors adjusted their defense as the half progressed. They limited Doncic to a first-half total of 24 points. Golden State then mounted a 10-0 run in the final two minutes of the half. Steph Curry led that surge with 14 points for the Warriors.

The teams entered the break tied at 53-53.