The Clippers lost 103-87 to the Lakers at Intuit Dome. It was their third straight loss, and they are 1-3 and 12th in the conference. They led 31-29 in the second quarter, scored only 16 points in that period and trailed by as many as 23.
Six minutes of the second quarter decided the game.
The Clippers led 31-29 with 6:46 left in the half. By 4:13 it was 45-31, a 16-0 Lakers run that turned an even game into a chase. The Lakers won the quarter 31-16 and went to the break up 56-38. The Clippers opened the third on an 8-0 burst to get within 56-46. The Lakers answered with 10 straight, then closed the quarter on an 8-0 run to lead 83-61. Tyronn Lue played the last five minutes with Baba Miller, Cam Christie, Jalen Pickett, Keaton Wagler and Nick Martinelli, a reserve group finishing a game that was already decided.
The Lakers won without their best player and on no rest.
ESPN reported that the Lakers had ruled out Luka Doncic and Ziaire Williams, and JJ Redick's team came in with zero rest days. Collin Sexton scored 21 off the bench on 6-of-11 shooting and finished +23. Quentin Grimes had 23 points, four steals and 10 of the Lakers' fourth-quarter points. Austin Reaves committed eight turnovers, and the Lakers still won by 16. The uncomfortable part is this: the Clippers are 0-2 against the Lakers, and this loss came against the thinner version of that roster.
Derrick Jones Jr. earned the top grade, and Darius Garland did not.
Jones gets an A-minus. He scored 15 on 6-of-10 shooting, made three of five threes and added four steals and two blocks. Wagler gets a C-plus. His 21 points led the team, but 10 came at the line and he made 4 of 15 from the floor. Garland gets a D for 14 points on 4-of-12 shooting with five turnovers and a -11 in 26 minutes. Clipperholics wrote about that turnover habit on Oct. 27. Brook Lopez had the worst mark on the team at -21 in 22 minutes. Isaiah Jackson had the best at -2 in 19.
The next two games matter more than an October schedule usually does.
At 1-3, the Clippers are half a game behind the 2-3 Warriors for 10th and 1.5 games behind the 3-2 Mavericks for sixth. Their pace projects to 21-61. That means little after four games, but it does describe the last three. They get two days off before playing at Minnesota on Oct. 30, then visit Golden State on Nov. 1 to face the team holding the last play-in spot. Rui Hachimura is day-to-day with an estimated return of Oct. 30. Ingram, Beal and Strus are listed for Nov. 8, so they won't be back for this road trip.
Why did the Clippers lose to the Lakers on Oct. 28?
A 16-0 Lakers run in the second quarter erased a 31-29 Clippers lead, and the Lakers went on to lead by as many as 23. Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes combined for 44 points.
When are Brandon Ingram and Bradley Beal expected back for the Clippers?
Both are listed Out with an estimated return of Nov. 8. Rui Hachimura is day-to-day with an estimated return of Oct. 30.
