The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off a dominant season opener, and they are bringing that energy straight into Friday night’s matchup against the L.A. Clippers at Crypto.com Arena. After kicking off the season with a huge victory over the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers are sitting at 1-0, ready to battle their crosstown rivals who also snagged a strong win against the Sacramento Kings to go 1-0. This is the first taste of L.A. basketball supremacy for the season, and it’s happening at 7 p.m. PT.
Lakers Kicking Off the Season in High Gear
You couldn’t ask for a better start, seriously. Luka Dončić was absolutely dominant in that opener, showing everyone he’s here to play. Austin Reaves picked up right where he left off last season, making plays and looking sharp, and can we talk about Walker Kessler? The dude was incredible! The Lakers brought a commendable two-way game for most of the night, with their role players stepping up and just meshing perfectly. The best part is that this team has so much more to build on and improve, which is a scary thought for the rest of the league.
They were scoring at will inside, racking up 66 points in the paint compared to the Warriors’ 56. That’s a huge advantage right there! Yeah, they shot only 22.2% from deep and grabbed seven fewer rebounds, but they still beat the Warriors in transition. Granted, Golden State was missing two starters, but that win still gave everyone a ton of reasons for optimism and should give the Lakers a massive confidence boost heading into this rivalry game.
Clippers Usher in a New Era, But It’s a Rough Start
For the Clippers, it’s a whole new chapter this offseason without Kawhi Leonard. They aren’t exactly rebuilding because they don’t have a reason to tank. On paper, what they’ve put together looks competitive, but let’s be real, that’s not exactly inspiring much optimism for their future. And right now, things are looking even tougher. The Clippers are battling some serious injuries. Brandon Ingram is dealing with a partially torn right Achilles tendon, Max Strus has issues with the plantar fascia in his right foot, and Bradley Beal is sidelined with an inflamed knee. That’s a brutal list, no joke.
So, as it stands, their best player has to be Darius Garland, who just dropped a great 30-point outing against the Kings. He’s going to need to be lights out for them to have a chance against this surging Lakers squad.
A Different Kind of Matchup and a Familiar Face Returns
Don’t let the injuries fool you completely, though. This Clippers team is going to be a tougher matchup for the Lakers than the Warriors were. They’re more complete at every position. With Isaiah Jackson and Brook Lopez anchoring their frontcourt, it’s going to be really interesting to see how Kessler handles that challenge in the paint. That’s a battle to watch for sure.
And get this, former Laker Rui Hachimura is now on the other side! Knowing the 6’8″ forward, he’s going to be extra hyped for this one. He’s already said he’s looking forward to playing the Lakers on Friday, calling it a special game to see some old faces and fans. Talk about adding some extra spice to an already heated rivalry!
So, can the Lakers keep up their dominant paint scoring and two-way play, or will the Clippers, despite their injuries, rally behind Garland and a motivated Hachimura to make a statement? You can watch it all go down on Spectrum Sportsnet. This first L.A. derby of the season is going to be a must-watch to see who sets the early tone.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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