Grimes and Sexton Step Up as Doncic-Less Lakers Rout Clippers 103-87

The Lakers did not need Luka Doncic to handle their crosstown rivals. With their star guard ruled out with back tightness on the second night of a back-to-back, Los Angeles produced a defensive masterclass to beat the Clippers 103-87 at the Intuit Dome on Wednesday night. Quentin Grimes led the way with 23 points, while Collin Sexton added 21 off the bench. Austin Reaves chipped in 16 and Matisse Thybulle scored 15 as the Lakers closed the first half on a 27-7 run to take an 18-point lead into the break. They never looked back, stretching the advantage to as many as 23 points. The story of the night was the Lakers' pressure. They forced 24 Clippers turnovers and turned them into 31 points, while collecting 15 steals and 17 offensive rebounds to survive their own 21 giveaways. It was a response to Tuesday's 136-129 home loss to Portland, a game in which Doncic had scored 41 points in 37 minutes before being held out as a precaution. Doncic, who leads the NBA in scoring at 36 points per game, had started each of the Lakers' first four games. His absence opened the door for others, and Grimes and Sexton walked straight through it, giving Los Angeles a statement win in the building of its biggest rivals.