LOS ANGELES – Austin Reaves recorded 28 points and nine assists, while Walker Kessler added 22 points and six blocked shots to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 125-117 victory against the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena, according to ABC7. The Friday night win pushed the Lakers to a 2-0 record to start the 2026-27 NBA season, reinforcing their early dominance in the crosstown rivalry by securing their ninth victory in the last 13 meetings.
Reaves and Kessler Step Up Amid Struggles
The victory came on a challenging night for superstar guard Luka Doncic, who finished with 23 points and seven assists but committed a career-high 11 turnovers against heavy defensive pressure, as detailed by the New York Post. With Doncic struggling to find an offensive rhythm, Reaves assumed control of the floor game. Reaves shot an ultra-efficient 10 of 13 from the field, including 3 of 5 from beyond the arc, anchoring the offense alongside Kessler. The 7-foot-2 center bounced back from a missed opening layup by converting his next eight consecutive shots, establishing a dominant interior presence that overwhelmed the Clippers’ defense.
Third-Quarter Surge Breaks Open Tight Game
The game remained tightly contested through a 64-64 halftime deadlock. However, Reaves sparked a decisive 16-4 run early in the third quarter that broke open the contest. Beginning with a physical layup over Isaiah Jackson and an alley-oop assist to Kessler, Reaves scored 13 points in the period alone, capping his burst with a pull-up 3-pointer that gave the Lakers an 89-76 advantage—their largest lead of the night.
Clippers’ Rebuilding Effort Hampered by Turnovers
Despite a strong performance from Darius Garland, who posted 26 points and six assists, and 22 points off the bench from 38-year-old veteran Brook Lopez, the rebuilding Clippers were undone by ball-security issues. The team committed 26 total turnovers, which prevented them from capitalizing on a late fourth-quarter surge that cut the Lakers’ lead down to 120-113. Former Laker Rui Hachimura also contributed 16 points and six rebounds against his former team in his first appearance back at Crypto.com Arena.
Looking Ahead
The Lakers received balanced contributions down the roster, with six players scoring at least 13 points, including 14 points from newcomer Ziaire Williams. Following this crosstown clash, both teams face quick turnarounds. The Clippers travel to face Oklahoma City on Sunday, while the Lakers hit the road to play the Utah Jazz.