LOS ANGELES - In already the second edition of the Battle of L.A. this season, the Lakers conquered the Clippers once again, winning 103-87 inside a Laker Fan-filled Intuit Dome Wednesday Night.
Much like their first meeting back on Friday, the Lakers went on a tear in the second quarter, utilizing a key 19-4 run just over a four minute stretch en route to a 56-38 lead at the half.
Despite being down their league-leading scorer in guard Luka Dončić as well as their starting forward Ziaire Williams, the Lakers found their rhythm following an early timeout in the third quarter when the Clippers cut it to a seven point deficit. The league’s best shooting squad from the floor this season didn’t display their standard efficiency, yet the Lakers took advantage down low and in transition the rest of the way.
“I thought tonight offensively, we got really stagnant, and we didn’t do all the things we’ve been talking about and that we have been doing,” said Clippers Head Coach Tyronn Lue. “Go back to the drawing board and continue to get better, work on what we need to do.”
While the Clippers held a league best 40-16 record against the Lakers since the 2011-12 season, the Lakers have already commanded both games this season and collected their first victory at the Intuit Dome since their 122-97 victory back on Feb. 4, 2025.
Two major focal points for the Clippers were limiting the turnovers and the points they allow off those mistakes, ranking dead last in the league in both categories with 23.2 turnovers and 31.3 points allowed off turnovers a game.
Having already surrendered 26 turnovers a piece in their last two games on the road against the Lakers and Thunder, the Clippers desperately needed to take care of the basketball. In spite of that, the Clippers remained their own worst enemy, turning it over 15 times in the first half with 24 total and allowing 31 Laker points off those miscues.
“They understand what we need to do,” Lue said. “I just think the way we need to play and how teams are going to guard us, we’ve just got to make the quick decision.”
The Clippers had a second quarter to forget, where they went just 3-for-17 from the floor, matching their fewest FG made in any quarter since March 17, 2024 vs the Atlanta Hawks.
While they were able to trim it down to a seven point deficit with an 11-2 run to open the second half, the Lakers responded with a 27-15 run of their own just under the final eight minutes of that quarter, going 8-for-13 from the field during that stretch and never looking back.
Both squads rolled out different starting lineups for the first time this season. Guard Quentin Grimes and forward Jake LaRavia earned their first starts of the season for the Lakers, while guard Kobe Sanders was slotted in the starting five for the injured Rui Hachimura on the Clippers side.
Grimes shined in the spotlight, finishing with 23 points on 7-for-15 shooting from the floor while also attacking the rack and getting to the line where he went 9-for-11. It was a dual-sided effort for Grimes, as he dished out five assists and had four steals, helping the Lakers win the tussle in transition especially when their offense needed a spark.
While the Lakers did have six players finish in double figures with four of them being their starters, it was the bench that stepped up down the stretch.
Lakers guard Collin Sexton finished with 21 points on 6-for-11 shooting and 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. He dropped his 11 second-half points in just over a two minute stretch, nailing four of his next five shots to wrap up the third quarter.
John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Lakers guard Collin Sexton (10) celebrates during an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers,Wednesday October 28th, 2026 in Inglewood, California.
Rookie guard Keaton Wagler gave the Clippers a glimmer of hope in a lifeless second half by getting to the rim and putting up 15 points. He finished with a career-high 21 points off the bench on just 4-for-15 from the floor but 10-12 from the charity stripe, keeping his double-digit scoring streak intact.
Their leading scorer over their first three games, starting point guard Darius Garland put up just 14 points on 4-12 shooting. Despite a heavy offensive load and taking a lot of hard contact tonight, ball control is something he’ll need to focus on as he turned it over five times tonight and now matches Dončić for most turnovers a game in the league at 5.8.
“We’re asking a lot of him with guys being out,” Lue said. “He just can feel the pressure of having to do it every single time.”
The Clippers will have a lot to focus on going forward, already dealing with a long list of injuries and a new youth-movement that has struggled to find consistency with their scattered veterans.
To begin NBA Group Cup play, the Clippers will head back out on the road and take on the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday.
Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. PST.