Oct 23, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Lakers are off to a perfect 2-0 start, and their latest victory over the Los Angeles Clippers showed why this team could be dangerous when everything clicks. The Lakers defeated their rivals 125-117, shooting an outstanding 58.2% from the field while dominating the paint and generating quality looks all night.
Austin Reaves led the way with 28 points and nine assists, Luka Doncic added 23 points and seven assists despite a turnover-heavy performance, and Walker Kessler dominated defensively with 22 points, eight rebounds, and six blocks. The Lakers also received an efficient 14-point performance from Ziaire Williams and 13 points from Matisse Thybulle.
Although the Clippers shot 43% from three-point range and forced 21 Lakers turnovers, they could not match Los Angeles’ interior production or overall shooting efficiency. Here are three major reasons the Lakers have started their season 2-0 after beating the Clippers.
1. Austin Reaves And Luka Doncic Are Giving The Lakers A Dynamic Duo
The Lakers have a major advantage when both Doncic and Reaves can consistently create offense, and their performances against the Clippers demonstrated how difficult that combination can be to defend.
Reaves finished with a game-high 28 points and nine assists, shooting 10-13 from the field and 3-5 from beyond the arc. He also committed just six turnovers in 38 minutes, providing efficient scoring while serving as a secondary playmaker alongside Doncic.
Doncic contributed 23 points, six rebounds, and seven assists. However, he struggled with ball security, committing 11 turnovers while shooting 8-21 from the field. His two three-pointers on eight attempts also left room for improvement.
Despite Doncic’s inefficient shooting and turnover problems, the Lakers still scored 125 points because Reaves was so effective and the rest of the lineup capitalized on the opportunities available. Los Angeles finished with 29 assists and shot 58.2% overall, showing how productive the offense can be when the team generates good looks.
The important takeaway is that the Lakers do not need Doncic to have a perfect game to win. Reaves can often carry games throughout the season as needed.
If Reaves keeps this level of production, opposing defenses will have a much harder time focusing only on Doncic. No doubt, the Lakers have one of the best duos in the NBA right now.
2. Walker Kessler Is Giving The Lakers A Perfect Big Man
Walker Kessler was arguably the most impactful player in the game against the Clippers, besides the Lakers’ primary scorers. He finished with 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals, and six blocks while shooting an exceptional 10-14 from the field.
His performance was important on both ends of the floor. Offensively, Kessler provided efficient finishing around the basket, helping the Lakers score 58 points in the paint. Defensively, his six blocks were a major reason Los Angeles finished with nine blocks as a team, more than twice the Clippers’ total of four.
The Lakers also won the rebounding battle 37-34 and collected 29 defensive rebounds. Kessler’s presence helped give Los Angeles a reliable interior anchor, allowing the team to protect the rim while limiting the Clippers’ opportunities around the basket.
The Clippers had their own productive frontcourt contributors, including Isaiah Jackson, who recorded six points and six rebounds, and Rui Hachimura, who scored 16 points. But they did not have an answer for Kessler’s combination of finishing, rebounding, and shot-blocking.
If Kessler continues to provide this level of two-way production, the Lakers could have a major advantage in the paint against a wide range of opponents.
3. The Lakers Are Winning With Efficiency And Team Basketball
Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the Lakers’ 2-0 start is that they aren’t really relying on one player doing everything. Against the Clippers, Los Angeles had huge games from several starters and role players while having one of its most efficient offensive performances.
Ziaire Williams scored 14 points on 5-7 shooting, while Matisse Thybulle added 13 points on 5-8 shooting, including three three-pointers. Quentin Grimes contributed 13 points, eight rebounds, and four assists off the bench, shooting 3-6 from the field and making all four of his free throws.
Those performances complemented the production from Doncic, Reaves, and Kessler. The Lakers finished 46-79 from the field and 14-32 from three-point range, shooting 43.8% from beyond the arc. They also recorded 29 assists, compared with 24 for the Clippers.
Los Angeles’ 58 points in the paint were impressive, while its nine blocks helped offset the Clippers’ 16 made three-pointers. The Lakers also committed five fewer turnovers than the Clippers, though their 21 giveaways remain an area for improvement.
Now, to be fair, the Clippers scored 22 fast-break points compared with 13 for the Lakers, and Doncic’s 11 turnovers gave their rivals opportunities to stay in the game. Los Angeles will need to clean up those mistakes against teams that are better at converting transition opportunities.
Eddie is a senior staff writer for Fadeaway World from Denver, Colorado. Since joining the team in 2017, Eddie has applied his academic background in economics and finance to enhance his sports journalism. Graduating with a Bachelor's degree from and later a Master's degree in Finance, he integrates statistical analysis into his articles. This unique approach provides readers with a deeper understanding of basketball through the lens of financial and economic concepts. Eddie's work has not only been a staple at Fadeaway World but has also been featured in prominent publications such as Sports Illustrated. His ability to break down complex data and present it in an accessible way creates an engaging and informative way to visualize both individual and team statistics. From finding the top 3 point shooters of every NBA franchise to ranking players by cost per point, Eddie is constantly finding new angles to use historical data that other NBA analysts may be overlooking.