Lakers Outscore Clippers 31-16 in Second Quarter to Extend Winning Streak
Inglewood team’s 24 turnovers allowed Los Angeles to build a 18-point halftime lead despite missing their star guard.
By Rosa Wojcik ·
The Los Angeles Clippers failed to capitalize on their home court advantage and the absence of a key opponent, falling to the Los Angeles Lakers 103-87 on Tuesday night at Intuit Dome. The loss drops the Clippers to 1-3 on the season while improving the Lakers to 4-1. The decisive factor was a defensive breakdown by the visitors, who committed 24 turnovers, allowing the Lakers to take control of the game’s tempo and score.
Luka Doncic missed the contest due to back tightness, but the Lakers maintained their offensive output through a balanced effort. Austin Reaves finished with 16 points and eight assists on 6-for-16 shooting. Quentin Grimes led the team with 23 points, five assists, and four steals. Collin Sexton contributed 21 points and four rebounds, hitting four of his seven three-point attempts. Matisse Thybulle added 15 points on 4-for-5 three-point shooting, while Sandro Mamukelashvili provided 13 points and eight rebounds.
Lakers coach JJ Redick credited the team’s rebounding effort for the victory, noting they secured 17 offensive boards. The Lakers outrebounded the Clippers 48-41. "Jake had five of those, Sandro had four of those. Like those guys gave us extra possessions, won the scoring opportunity by seven," Redick said. He also noted the team’s response to their first loss of the season against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Clippers struggled to contain the Lakers after a slow start. They turned the ball over four times in the first four minutes. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue described the early mistakes as "deflating." The Lakers exploited these errors in the second quarter, outscoring the Clippers 31-16. This surge included a 16-0 run that established a 56-38 halftime lead. The Lakers shot 44% from the field overall, while the Clippers managed only 35%.
The Clippers attempted a comeback in the third quarter, pulling within seven points on a 12-2 run. However, the Lakers closed the period with a 27-15 surge. Sexton scored 11 consecutive points during this stretch, including back-to-back three-pointers, to extend the Lakers’ lead to 85-66. Rookie guard Keaton Wagler finished the quarter with a half-court buzzer-beater. He led the Clippers with 21 points, shooting 4-for-15 from the field but 10-for-12 from the free-throw line.
Point guard Darius Garland had 14 points on 4-for-12 shooting and committed five of the team’s 24 turnovers. Derrick Jones Jr. added 15 points, five rebounds, and four steals. The Clippers are missing six key rotation players, including starting forward Ziaire Williams for the Lakers, who played with foot soreness. The team comes into this stretch averaging a league-worst 23.3 turnovers per game.
Lue acknowledged the team’s struggle with ball security, stating that 26 turnovers in two consecutive games is excessive. "We got to do a better job of taking care of the basketball," Lue said. Garland agreed, suggesting the team needs to slow down to find rhythm. "We’re trying to make the right plays. I think we’re just playing a little too fast," Garland said. The Lakers held the lead for the final 14 minutes, extending their advantage to 23 points before coasting to the finish.
