BBNBA: Warriors-Lakers open 2021-22 season with a bang

Oh, it feels so good to be back. Three former Kentucky guys began their 2021-22 season last night as Anthony Davis, Rajon Rondo, Malik Monk and the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers fell 121-114 to the Golden State Warriors to kick off the NBA season on Tuesday night.

Let’s get into it.

(Also: check out our full player-by-player preview of the season right here)

RECAP

With just one game and one team in last night’s opener that included former ‘Cats, today’s update oughta be brief.

Anthony Davis returned to the floor his healthiest self after he went down in this summer’s playoffs with a groin injury. He was the best Lakers player on the floor last night, scoring 33 points on uber-efficient 15-26 shooting while adding 11 rebounds and a pair of blocks.

Malik Monk made his Lakers debut with an up-and-down 19 minutes of play. The fifth-year guard was treated like a high school freshman trying to sit at the senior table at lunch as he spent most of his first-half minutes watching Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook brick mid-range jumpers.

But Monk eventually settled in and hit a pair of threes to give the Lakers an early glimpse at exactly what he brings to the table. He also got demolished on defense in the fourth quarter. Man, it was bad. The Warriors attacked him over and over again on a string of possessions to help take the lead early in the fourth as Jordan Poole (some call him “Swaggy”) busted him up for several buckets.

A must-fix for Monk if he plans to play major minutes for a Lakers team that emphasizes defense and has former All-Stars chomping at the bit to take his minutes. As a matter of fact, the Lakers have 57 combined All-Star Game appearances on their roster among seven different players. Insane!

Lastly, Rajon Rondo also made his debut. A re-debut, actually, considering he was a key cog on LAL’s title last October. He had no trouble settling back in next to LeBron and the gang. He only converted one of his four shots — a corner three — but added five assists and two steals.

Highly entertaining roundball matchup last night between the Lakers and Dubs to kick things off. Check out the highlights:

Today in the NBA

7:00: Pacers (Jackson) @ Hornets (Washington, Richards)

7:00: Bulls @ Pistons (Diallo, Lyles)

7:30: Celtics (Kanter) @ Knicks (Randle, Quickley, Noel, Knox)

8:00: Rockets (Wall) @ Timberwolves (Towns, Vanderbilt)

8:00: 76ers (Maxey) @ Pelicans

8:30: Magic @ Spurs (Johnson)

9:00: Thunder (Gilegous-Alexander) @ Jazz

10:00: Nuggets @ Suns (Booker)

10:00: Kings (Fox) @ Trail Blazers