What happened: Walker Kessler settled in immediately as a Los Angeles Lakers big man in his first game with the club. He finished the 127-105 victory with 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 assist.

Why it matters: After being tasked with anchoring the Lakers defense entering the season, Kessler delivered immediate interior scoring and rebounding in his debut. Establishing reliable production at center gives Los Angeles an interior foundation from the first game of the campaign.

What to watch: Kessler will look to carry his opening-night form into the next game on the Lakers' regular-season schedule.