Deadspin: Lakers Minus Luka Doncic’s Back Trouble, Cruise Past Clippers in 103-87 Win

Lakers Pull Away After Slow Start

The Lakers edged ahead after a competitive opening quarter, then used a 16-0 second-quarter surge to turn a two-point deficit into a 45-31 advantage. They went into halftime ahead 56-38 after limiting the Clippers to 17.6% shooting in the period.

Los Angeles briefly saw its lead shrink to 58-51 early in the third quarter. The Lakers responded and entered the final quarter up 85-66, on the way to a 103-87 victory.

Grimes And Sexton Lead Scoring

Quentin Grimes scored 23 points, while Collin Sexton added 21. Austin Reaves finished with 16 points, and Matisse Thybulle had 15; each of Grimes, Sexton and Thybulle reached a season high.

Sexton made six of 11 shots, including four of seven from three-point range. Thybulle went five for six overall and four for five from beyond the arc. Walker Kessler recorded 11 points and nine rebounds, and Jake LaRavia collected 10 rebounds.

Doncic Sits With Back Tightness

Doncic was held out with back tightness on the second night of a back-to-back. The Lakers also played without Ziaire Williams, who had a foot injury.

Turnovers Hurt Clippers Again

Rookie Keaton Wagler scored a career-high 21 points, and Derrick Jones Jr. added 15 for the Clippers. Wagler, the No. 5 overall pick in the June draft, has scored in double figures in all four of his games.

Darius Garland had 14 points on four-for-12 shooting. The Clippers committed 24 turnovers, reaching that mark for a third straight game, and they shot a season-low 35.1% from the floor. The Lakers shot 44.3% and held a 48-41 rebounding edge.