Reaves' Third-Quarter Blitz Carries Lakers Past Clippers 125-117 in Battle of L.A.

Austin Reaves scored 28 points with nine assists, erupting for 13 in a 39-point third quarter, as the Los Angeles Lakers stayed perfect at 2-0 with a 125-117 win over the cross-town Clippers on Friday night.

Reaves' Third-Quarter Blitz Carries Lakers Past Clippers 125-117 in Battle of L.A.

Austin Reaves took over the Battle of L.A. The Lakers guard scored 13 of his 28 points in a third-quarter blitz to power Los Angeles past the Clippers 125-117 at Crypto.com Arena on Friday, keeping the Lakers perfect through two games.

With the game tied at 64 at halftime and Luka Doncic struggling — the Slovenian finished with 23 points but committed 11 turnovers — Reaves sparked the decisive run. Leading 77-76 with 7:18 left in the third, the Lakers ripped off a 14-1 surge keyed by Reaves, taking a 103-90 lead into the fourth after a 39-point period on 72.7 percent shooting.

Walker Kessler, the summer arrival from Utah, posted 22 points, eight rebounds and six blocks on 10-of-14 shooting, while Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle and Quentin Grimes chipped in. The Lakers forced 26 Clippers turnovers, converting them into 33 points, to win for the ninth time in their past 13 meetings with their rivals.

Darius Garland led the Clippers with 26 points and Brook Lopez added 22, and an 8-0 run cut the deficit to six with 3:21 to play — but Grimes sealed it at the line and the Clippers fell to 1-1.