Austin Reaves scored 28 points and doled out nine assists while Walker Kessler added 22 points and six blocks to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a 125-117 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers at the Crypto.com Arena.
Derby Opening Night at Crypto.com Arena
The first crosstown rivalry matchup of the season drew a sold-rated crowd, with both teams meeting on the hardwood in Los Angeles. The Lakers erased a shaky start to capture their second win of the young campaign, pushing their recent record against their arena co-tenants to nine wins in their last 13 encounters.
The Clippers grabbed the early initiative by winning the opening period. J.J. Redick’s Lakers struggled to find early rhythm against a visiting defense that conceded a 47.8% shooting mark from the field compared to 63.2% for the Clippers in the game’s initial frames.
J.J. Redick opted for the same formula that had sparked a previous win over the Golden State Warriors, starting Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle alongside the main trio. Meanwhile, the Clippers relied on Darius Garland and former Lakers player Rui Hachimura, while Spanish player Baba Miller remained on the bench due to a technical decision.
Reaves Leads Surge After Doncic Commits 11 Turnovers
Luka Dončić finished the night with 23 points, but committed a career-high 11 turnovers in an uncharacteristic performance running the offense.
Despite the turnovers, Dončić spearheaded a second-quarter recovery that squared the match at 64-64 by halftime. The game shifted decisively in the third quarter when Reaves erupted for 13 of his game-high 28 points, orchestrating a surge that built a double-digit lead for the gold and purple before entering the final frame up 103-90.
Kessler Records First Consecutive 20-Point Games
Walker Kessler anchored the paint for the Lakers with 22 points and seven rebounds, recording consecutive 20-point performances for the first time in his five-year NBA career. Dončić praised Kessler’s mobility in transition after the game, stating that the center knows how to play the sport at a high level.
For the Clippers, Darius Garland led the scoring effort with 26 points and six assists. Veteran reserve center Brook Lopez contributed 22 points—including 15 in the first half—while former Lakers forward Rui Hachimura added 16 points and six rebounds in his first game back against his former club.
Box Score Statistics
The core offensive production breakdown for the two teams highlights the distribution of minutes, points, rebounds, and assists during the contest:
| Player | Min | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Reaves (LAL) | 38 | 28 | 2 | 9 |
| Walker Kessler (LAL) | 34 | 22 | 8 | 1 |
| Brook Lopez (LAC) | 19 | 22 | 4 | 0 |
Lakers Room for Growth Moving Forward
Following the final buzzer, Dončić assessed the team’s current trajectory by acknowledging that the roster still requires significant improvement in ball movement and overall floor execution. The guard emphasized that defensive intensity remains the primary catalyst for the team’s transition offense and scoring runs.
Los Lakers buscan afinar sus rotaciones mientras los Clippers intentan corregir los errores de un encuentro en el que cometieron 26 pérdidas de balón.
