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On opening night, Luka Doncic, Walker Kessler pairing works beautifully

Luka Doncic and rookie center Walker Kessler clicked instantly on opening night, with Doncic driving the lane and Kessler finishing an alley‑oop for his first dunk. Kessler went on to record ten dunks, tallying 24 points on a perfect 12‑of‑12 shooting line, the most first‑game season dunks by a Laker since Shaquille O’Neal in 2003.

The duo helped Los Angeles defeat a shorthanded Golden State Warriors 127‑105, a game in which Doncic contributed 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists despite a modest 7‑of‑18 shooting night.

Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick had envisioned this partnership after paying a premium for Kessler’s Utah contract and a new $130 million deal, and the performance validated their strategy. The Warriors, missing key players such as Jimmy Butler and Kristaps Porzingis, kept the game close early thanks to Stephen Curry’s 16 first‑quarter points, but Los Angeles’ defense tightened and the Doncic‑Kessler connection proved decisive.

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