LOS ANGELES — It was a mismatch from the start.
There was 6-foot-8 Clippers center Isaiah Jackson going up against 7-1 Lakers center Walker Kessler as the teams tipped off Friday night at Crypto.com Arena.
Kessler then met his match.
With Kessler on the bench, 7-1 veteran center Brook Lopez checked into the game with 3:13 left in the first quarter and scored seven points before the buzzer sounded, helping the Clippers to an early lead [that eventually dissolved into a 125-117 loss to the Lakers](https://www.ocregister.com/2026/10/23/lakers-stave-off-clippers-as-walker-kessler-patrols-the-paint/).
By the time Lopez took a seat, the 38-year-old big man had 15 points on 6-of-6 shooting, including two 3-pointers, well on his way to 22 points, four rebounds and three blocked shots in 20 efficient minutes.
While Kessler still had the better game (22 points, eight rebounds, six blocked shots), Lopez continued to prove he still has game late in his career. He contributed 17 points and 10 rebounds in the Clippers’ season-opening win against the Sacramento Kings two nights earlier.
“Brook, he’s been hooping. He’s been hooping,” said Jackson, who finished with six points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block in 28 minutes.
Lopez’s rejuvenation was just one of many story lines for the Clippers (1-1) in the latest chapter of this crosstown rivalry. The biggest topic was the team’s 26 turnovers, which led to 33 points for the Lakers (2-0). Point guard Darius Garland had a career-high nine turnovers, many by his own doing.
“They did a couple of things, but you got to take care of the basketball,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “This team is too good to turn the ball over 26 times and expect to win the game. We fought hard but we didn’t play smart.
“We didn’t handle the ball good eno½ ugh to turn the ball over 26 times.”
Garland’s miscues overshadowed his team-high 26 points and six assists.
“Just careless with the ball,” he said.
The turnovers and an uninspired third quarter in which they were outscored 39-26 doomed the Clippers, who kept things tight in the first half then used a late surge to trim a 15-point deficit to six in the final minutes of the game. The teams were tied at 64-64 at halftime.
The Lakers sensed the change in their energy and scored on 20 of their first 29 shots to start the second half and turn a tie game into a 108-94 lead three minutes into the fourth quarter. The Clippers never recovered, spoiling Rui Hachimura’s return to Crypto.com Arena.
Hachimura, who signed a free agent contract with the Clippers this summer, made his first trip to the arena where he spent the previous 3½ seasons. He hugged his former teammates before the game, joked with others then caught a glimpse of the tribute shown on the video board during the game’s first timeout.
“It was a great moment with them … it was a fun time,” said Hachimura, who had 16 points on 5-of-15 shooting, including 3-of-8 from 3-point range.
Lue said Hachimura seemed to get caught up in the moment.
“Just being in a different locker room, seeing your old teammates, it’s a weird feeling for the first time,” Lue said.
Rookie guard Keaton Wagler continued his ongoing development with 13 points, three rebounds and three assists in 24 minutes. The 19-year-old appeared unfazed playing against six-time All-Star Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
“I thought he handled it well,” Lue said of Wagler’s defensive play. “I like his poise. I like his ability to make plays and take shots as well.”