The Clippers walked into the Lakers' building without Brandon Ingram, Bradley Beal or Max Strus and still built an 11-point lead in the second quarter. Austin Reaves finished with 28 points and nine assists, and the Lakers won 125-117 to open 2-0 and sit first in the West.
The Hole and the Climb
The first act belonged to the visitors. A 9-0 Clippers burst late in the first quarter sent them to the break up 31-27, and an 8-0 run early in the second stretched it to 44-33, their biggest margin of the night. Brook Lopez was the problem off the bench: six shots, six makes, 15 points, all in eight minutes on the floor. The Lakers answered right after a timeout with an 8-0 run of their own to cut it to 44-41, and the half closed level at 64. The game swung 12 times before anyone could breathe.
Who Held the Floor
JJ Redick trusted his starting group to finish the game, with Kessler, Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle, Reaves and Doncic on the court for the last five minutes. The plus-minus backs the choice. By early in the third quarter Williams was +14 in 17 minutes on 4-for-5 shooting, Thybulle +12 and Kessler +10. The bench was the soft spot: Sandro Mamukelashvili sat at -11 in 14 minutes, Quentin Grimes at -4, and the reserves had 11 points to the starters' 64 at that point.
Grades and the Road Ahead
Reaves earns an A: he led the Lakers with 28 and nine, and was 5-for-6 from the field and 5-for-6 at the line by the early third. Kessler gets a B-plus for 6-for-7 shooting, three blocks, two steals and no turnovers. Doncic gets a C: six assists, but 5-for-15 shooting and six giveaways by the same mark, a night when his co-star had to carry the scene. Darius Garland led the Clippers with 26 points and six assists, and they fall to 1-1. The Lakers visit Utah on Oct. 25, host Portland on Oct. 27 and see the Clippers again on their floor on Oct. 28. Jake LaRavia, Adou Thiero and Cameron Carr all sat; each is expected back Oct. 25.
Who led the Lakers in their win over the Clippers on Oct. 23?
Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 28 points and nine assists in the 125-117 win. Darius Garland led the Clippers with 26 points.
When do the Lakers and Clippers play again?
The rematch is Oct. 28 at the Clippers. Before that the Lakers visit the Jazz on Oct. 25 and host the Trail Blazers on Oct. 27.
