The Los Angeles Lakers entered Wednesday night’s game without the NBA’s leading scorer. They left with another convincing victory over their city rivals.
With Luka Doncic sidelined because of back tightness, the Lakers defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 103-87 at Intuit Dome, improving to 4-1 and completing their second victory over the Clippers in less than a week.
Quentin Grimes scored 23 points, while Collin Sexton added a season-high 21 off the bench.
But the most remarkable part of the game wasn’t an individual scoring performance. It was a second quarter that completely changed the contest.
The Clippers scored just six points in one quarter
The Lakers outscored the Clippers 31-6 in the second quarter, turning what had been a competitive game into an 18-point halftime advantage. Los Angeles scored 16 consecutive points during the period as the Clippers struggled to generate anything resembling consistent offense.
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ā Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 29, 2026
Six Lakers players scored in the quarter, demonstrating the kind of balance that became essential without Doncic.
The Clippers briefly threatened a comeback after halftime, opening the third quarter with a 12-2 run. But the Lakers responded with another surge, outscoring their opponents 27-15 over the remainder of the period.
Sexton scored 11 consecutive points during that stretch, including back-to-back three-pointers. By the end of the third quarter, the Lakers led 85-65. The Clippers never recovered.
Turnovers are becoming a serious problem
The Clippers committed 24 turnovers Wednesday. That number was particularly concerning because it followed consecutive games with 26 turnovers apiece.
Across those three contests, the Clippers have given the ball away 76 times. It’s difficult to build offensive consistency when so many possessions end before a team can generate a quality shot.
The problem becomes even more damaging when an opponent is playing without its biggest offensive weapon. The Lakers didn’t need Doncic to produce another 40-point performance. They simply capitalized on their opportunities while the Clippers repeatedly failed to protect the basketball.
Rookie Keaton Wagler led the Clippers with a career-high 21 points off the bench. But his individual contribution couldn’t overcome the team’s broader offensive difficulties.
Doncic’s absence was precautionary
Lakers head coach JJ Redick indicated that sitting Doncic was a precautionary decision. The superstar had scored 41 points Tuesday during a 136-129 loss to Portland, playing 37 minutes in the first game of the team’s back-to-back.
He entered Wednesday averaging an NBA-leading 36 points per game.
Starting forward Ziaire Williams also missed the Clippers game with a sore left foot.
Despite those absences, the Lakers had six players score in double figures. Austin Reaves contributed 16 points, while Matisse Thybulle added 15. The balanced performance was an encouraging sign for a team whose early-season attention has largely centered on Doncic’s extraordinary scoring.
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Friday brings a much bigger test
The Lakers visit Golden State on Friday to open NBA Cup group play. Stephen Curry is coming off a 44-point performance against Minnesota, setting up a potentially entertaining contest if Doncic is available.
The Clippers, meanwhile, will visit the Timberwolves while attempting to end a three-game losing streak.
Wednesday’s result offered contrasting lessons for the two Los Angeles teams.
The Lakers demonstrated that they can win comfortably without their biggest star. The Clippers demonstrated that they still have significant offensive problems to solve. And allowing only six points in an entire quarter might be the most concerning statistic of all.
