The Los Angeles Lakers secured a 125-117 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena, overcoming key absences and late-game turnovers to claim their second win of the season. Guard Collin Sexton returned to action for the Lakers after missing the start of the campaign due to a lower leg injury, while forward Jake LaRavia was sidelined with a sprained right ankle.
Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 28 points and nine assists, though he committed six turnovers. Luka Doncic contributed 23 points, seven assists, and six rebounds but was responsible for 11 of the team’s 21 turnovers. Walker Kessler delivered a standout performance with 22 points on 10-for-14 shooting, adding eight rebounds and six blocks, providing a crucial defensive presence throughout the game.
After a tied halftime score of 64-64, the Lakers built a 15-point lead in the second half, only to see that margin diminish to six points with just over three minutes remaining on a basket by Clippers guard Darius Garland, who finished with 26 points. Kessler played a pivotal role in the closing moments, hitting two free throws and blocking a shot to help preserve the Lakers’ lead.
Kessler’s impact was evident early, beginning the game with a steal and a coast-to-coast two-handed dunk. In the third quarter, he blocked a shot from Derrick Jones Jr., leading to a three-pointer by Reaves that extended the Lakers’ lead. Kessler also grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a contested reverse layup while drawing a foul. In the fourth quarter, he challenged a shot by Rui Hachimura and caught an alley-oop dunk from Reaves during a fast break.
Hachimura, who spent three and a half seasons with the Lakers before signing a two-year, $28-million deal with the Clippers this summer, returned to Crypto.com Arena to face his former team. The Lakers honored him by showing highlights of his time with the franchise. Hachimura contributed 12 points by halftime, helping keep the Clippers competitive. Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised Hachimura’s preseason play, noting the Clippers’ offensive schemes under which Hachimura has thrived.
Sexton entered the game with just under four minutes remaining in the opening quarter and made an immediate impact with a steal. He played 16 minutes total, scoring five points and recording three steals. LaRavia, who appeared in all 82 games last season, was unable to play due to his ankle injury. The Lakers hope for his return by Sunday’s game at Utah or Tuesday’s home matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers, though his availability remains uncertain.
Coach Redick emphasized LaRavia’s determination to play through injuries, recounting a conversation with the forward before the game in which he expressed optimism about a swift return. Nonetheless, the team prioritized caution given the severity of the sprain, leaving LaRavia’s status under evaluation in the coming days.