By Field Level Media
Oct 29 (Field Level Media) – Quentin Grimes scored 23 points, Collin Sexton added 21 and the visiting Los Angeles Lakers overcame the absence of Luka Doncic to earn a 103-87 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday at Inglewood, Calif.
Austin Reaves put up 16 points and Matisse Thybulle logged 15 as the Lakers rebounded from their first loss of the season Tuesday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Walker Kessler amassed 11 points and nine rebounds in his fifth game for the Lakers, matching his total games played from last season for the Utah Jazz. Jake LaRavia grabbed 10 rebounds.
Doncic was held out due to back tightness on the second night of a back-to- back, while the Lakers also were without Ziaire Williams because of a foot injury. Former Laker Rui Hachimura did not play for the Clippers because of quad soreness.
Rookie Keaton Wagler scored a career-high 21 points and Derrick Jones Jr. added 15 for the Clippers, who lost for the third time in four games this season, including two defeats at the hands of the Lakers.
Darius Garland scored 14 points on 4-of-12 shooting for the Clippers, who committed 24 turnovers to reach at least that many for the third consecutive game. The Clippers lead the NBA in turnovers per game (23.0).
The Clippers shot a season-low 35.1% from the floor, while the Lakers shot 44.3% and had a 48-41 rebounding advantage.
After a competitive first quarter, the Lakers started to distance themselves with a 16-0 run in the second quarter that turned a two-point deficit into a 45-31 lead. The Lakers led 56-38 at halftime after holding the Clippers to a mere 17.6% from the floor in the second quarter.
The Clippers pulled to within 58-51 four minutes into the third quarter before the Lakers took control again and led 85-66 through three quarters.
Grimes, Sexton and Thybulle each delivered a season high in scoring for the Lakers, with each in their first season with the team. Sexton shot 6 of 11 from the floor and 4 of 7 from 3-point range, while Thybulle was 5 of 6 and 4 of 5, respectively.
Wagler, the No. 5 overall selection in the June draft, has scored in double digits in all four games for the Clippers.
(–Field Level Media)
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