Austin Reaves fuels Lakers' win as Luka Doncic struggles in LA showdown
Austin Reaves sparked a decisive run for the Lakers, who defeated the Clippers 125-117 despite Luka Doncic's off night.
In a Friday night contest at Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers secured a 125-117 victory over the Clippers, moving to 2-0 for the season. After a deadlocked first half, Austin Reaves took charge, delivering a 16-4 run that shifted momentum. He scored nine consecutive points, ending the night with 28 points on highly efficient shooting and nine assists.
Walker Kessler added 22 points, eight rebounds, six blocks and three steals, while Luka Doncic posted 23 points despite a sluggish 8-of-21 shooting performance. The Clippers' Darius Garland topped their scoring with 26 points, yet the team could not close the gap after the Lakers' late surge. Brook Lopez and Rui Hachimura contributed off the bench for the Clippers, but the Lakers held on to the lead through the final minutes.
Why it matters
The win highlights Austin Reaves' impact and sets an early tone for the Lakers' season.
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