Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic headline Warriors-Lakers opener without LeBron James

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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry during a pre-season game with the Los Angeles Clippers.

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

LOS ANGELES – Even without LeBron James, there will be plenty of star power on the court when the Golden State Warriors visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday for the second half of the NBA’s Opening Night doubleheader.

In focus will be the Warriors’ Stephen Curry, who begins his 17th NBA season, and the Lakers’ Luka Doncic, who heads into his first full season in Los Angeles after a trade from the Dallas Mavericks in February.

James’ record-breaking 23rd NBA season will be delayed up to a month as he recovers from injury. Doncic and budding star Austin Reaves will have to carry the load for the Lakers moving forward, while Gabe Vincent is expected to start in place of James.

Set to make their Los Angeles debuts will be center Deandre Ayton, guard Marcus Smart and forward Jake LaRavia.

“Honestly, I think we have a great team,” Doncic said.

“We have what we need to compete for the championship. I’ll try to win every game no matter what, and we got some new great guys on the team. We’re going to go for it.”

The Lakers were the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs last spring, but they were eliminated in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. That prevented a second-round matchup with the No. 7-seeded Warriors, who upset the second-seeded Houston Rockets.

The Timberwolves also eliminated the Warriors. Curry came away from the series-opening victory with a hamstring