The ColorWay Sports team was at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday night for the Lakers home opener against the Warriors. The Lakers won 127-105. But the score is not what we walked out talking about. It feels like the Lakers are back.
The arena music sounds right again. The old three-point sound is back. And Dieter Ruehle is playing the organ. For the first time in a long time, a Lakers game felt like a Lakers game.
First quarter, Lakers vs. Warriors, Oct. 21. Photo: ColorWay Sports
Dieter Ruehle on the Organ Makes the Whole Building Better
We graded the news an A+ when Dieter Ruehle returned as the Lakers organist, and hearing it in person was even better than we expected. Dieter on the keyboard completely changes the game. It is incredible.
The arena sounds better. The breaks in play feel like part of the night instead of dead air filled with whatever is trending. Anyone who has been to a Dodgers or Kings game knows what he does to a building, and now the Lakers have it again.
Arash Markazi of The Sporting Tribune, who first reported Dieter's return, caught him at the keys on opening night:
The Old Three-Point Sound Is Back
The Lakers also brought back their old-school three-point sound. If you have been going to Lakers games for a while, you know it the second you hear it. Here is what it sounds like:
And it got plenty of use. Luka hit from deep early:
It is a small thing. But small things are what make a home arena feel like home, and this one was honestly really exciting to hear again.
The Los Angeles Lakers, Not the Los Angeles LeBrons
Here is our take. With LeBron not around, it feels like a weight has come off everybody's shoulders. For years the whole building revolved around one player. On Wednesday night it felt like it was about the team again. It is the Los Angeles Lakers again, not the Los Angeles LeBrons.
It was a very, very enjoyable atmosphere, and it was exciting to be there.
Even the pregame hype video felt like old Lakers:
Crypto.com Arena on opening night. Photo: ColorWay Sports
What the Lakers and Warriors Wore
Both teams wore their Icon Edition jerseys, a color-on-color game. The Lakers wore gold at home, and the Warriors wore their royal blue. That matches the NBA's official uniform schedule for the night.
Gold at home is rarer than you might think this season. The gold Icon is scheduled for only 9 of the Lakers' 40 dated home games, and opening night was the first of them. We broke down every home date in the Lakers wear purple more than gold at home this season, and every game is in our Lakers uniform schedule.
The Lakers in gold, the Warriors in blue. Photo: ColorWay Sports
The Game
The Lakers beat the Warriors 127-105 in front of 19,057, per ESPN. Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 28 points and 7 assists. Walker Kessler added 26 points and 9 rebounds. Stephen Curry led Golden State with 23 points.
Kessler did a lot of his work at the rim. Per the Lakers, he is the only Laker since Shaq with 10 or more dunks in a game:
Frequently Asked Questions
What jersey did the Lakers wear on opening night 2026? The gold Icon Edition. The Lakers wore gold at home against the Warriors on October 21, 2026, as the NBA's uniform schedule listed.
What jersey did the Warriors wear against the Lakers? The royal blue Icon Edition.
Who won Lakers vs Warriors on October 21, 2026? The Lakers, 127-105, at Crypto.com Arena.
Who is the Lakers organist? Dieter Ruehle, who returned as the Lakers organist and musical director for the 2026-27 season. He is also the organist for the Dodgers and the LA Kings.
Did the Lakers bring back their old three-point sound? Yes. We heard the old-school three-point sound at the home opener on October 21, 2026.
How many times do the Lakers wear gold at home in 2026-27? Nine times, per the NBA's schedule: October 21, November 2, November 18, January 7, January 26, February 16, March 6, March 11 and April 6.
The Bottom Line
The Lakers won, and they looked like the Lakers in gold at home. But the real win was the building. Dieter on the organ, the old three-point sound and a team that is about the team again. We will be back.
