Lakers beat Clippers 103-87 without Dončić in Battle of L.A.
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- The Lakers beat the Clippers 103-87 on October 28, 2026, at Intuit Dome.
- Luka Dončić sat out, so Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton led the scoring.
- The Lakers visit the Warriors next; the Clippers head to Minnesota.
The Los Angeles Lakers beat the LA Clippers 103-87. The game was played on October 28, 2026, at Intuit Dome in Inglewood. The Lakers won the crosstown matchup even without star guard Luka Dončić.
What happened
The Lakers were missing Dončić and Ziaire Williams. Both were ruled out. It was the second night of a back-to-back, according to Silver Screen and Roll.
The Lakers had lost to the Portland Trail Blazers the night before. The first quarter was slow for both teams. Neither side could build a real lead.
The Lakers ended the quarter on a 9-2 run and took a 25-22 lead. The second quarter changed the game. The Lakers forced turnovers again and again.
They closed the half on a 27-7 run. That run gave them a 56-38 lead at halftime.
Austin Reaves led the first half with 16 points. Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton picked up the scoring load. Matisse Thybulle hit two three-pointers and reached 12 points before the break.
The Clippers started the third quarter with a quick 5-0 run. The Lakers answered with defense. LaRavia, Thybulle, and Grimes sparked a 10-0 run.
Sexton then scored 11 straight points for the Lakers. They led by 19 at the end of the third.
The quarter scores tell the story. The Lakers took the second quarter 31-16. The third was close at 29-28.
The Clippers won the fourth 21-18. The game was already decided.
The fourth quarter was quiet. Both teams played out the clock. The final score was Lakers 103, Clippers 87.
The players who stepped up
Quentin Grimes led the Lakers with 23 points. He started in place of the missing stars. He added 5 assists and 4 steals, according to Corner Wire.
Collin Sexton scored 21 points off the bench. He made 6 of 11 shots. His third-quarter run put the game out of reach.
Matisse Thybulle finished with 15 points. He shot 5 of 6 from the field. Sandro Mamukelashvili added 13 points and 8 rebounds.
Austin Reaves scored 16 points. He struggled with his shot, going 6 of 16. He also committed 8 turnovers.
For the Clippers, Keaton Wagler led with 21 points. Derrick Jones added 15. Darius Garland had 14 points and 5 assists.
Why it matters
The Lakers proved they can win without Dončić. Just days earlier, Dončić dropped 52 points on Utah in a 132-123 win. This time the stars watched, and the supporting cast took over.
Defense was the story. The Lakers forced 24 Clippers turnovers. They turned those mistakes into 31 points, according to Silver Screen and Roll.
They also grabbed 15 steals and 17 offensive rebounds. The win also keeps the Lakers' grip on the rivalry. The Lakers now lead the all-time series 160-89, according to Wikipedia.
They have won 3 straight against the Clippers. The teams have met 249 times in total.
This was also a bounce-back game. The Lakers lost to Portland on Tuesday. Winning on a back-to-back, on the road, shows the depth of the roster.
The team stats back up the result. The Lakers grabbed 56 rebounds to the Clippers' 47. They scored 24 fast-break points to the Clippers' 6.
Their biggest lead reached 23 points, according to Sportradar.
Walker Kessler also chipped in with 11 points and 9 rebounds. The frontcourt depth helped the Lakers win the rebound battle.
The Clippers are still finding their form. They fell to 1-3, while the Lakers climbed to 4-1, according to Sportradar. Turnovers and cold shooting hurt them all night.
What happens next
The Lakers travel to face the Golden State Warriors on October 30. Tip-off is at 10:00 PM EDT, according to Corner Wire. It is another road test against a West contender.
The Clippers visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 30. That game starts at 8:00 PM EDT.
The next Battle of LA is set for January 11, 2027, according to Wikipedia. Until then, this win belongs to the Lakers. The supporting cast proved the team is more than one star.
Are you catching up on the Lakers' week? Read their October 25 preseason preview against Utah to see how much has changed. One thing has not changed: the Lakers are winning games.
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