Lakers outlast Clippers behind big three

LOS ANGELES — The Lakers’ big three delivered again on Friday. This time, Austin Reaves supplied the second-half scoring burst, while Walker Kessler helped create separation with his anchoring.

Reaves, Luka Dončić and Kessler combined for 73 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Clippers 125-117 before a sellout crowd at Crypto.com Arena, improving to 2-0.

Reaves finished with 28 points and nine assists, Dončić added 23 points and Kessler contributed 22 points and six blocks. After combining for 77 points in Wednesday’s season-opening win over Golden State, the trio helped L.A. outlast the Clippers in its first crosstown matchup of the season.

Rui Hachimura finished with 16 points and six rebounds in his return to L.A. He shot 5 for 14 from the field, including 3 for 6 from 3-point range, in his return.

The biggest push came in the third quarter, when Reaves scored 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting and Kessler recorded two blocks. The Lakers outscored the Clippers 39-26 in the period to turn a halftime tie into a 103-90 lead.

“It just felt like Walker was everywhere, in that third and really was a huge spark for us getting us a win,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.

Reaves had 26 points and six assists through three quarters, making nine of his first 10 shots. His efficiency helped carry the offense after Dončić opened the game shooting 2 for 10.

Dončić recovered to make six of his final 11 attempts, while Reaves continued finding opportunities to score and create for teammates. The Lakers extended their advantage to 15 in the fourth quarter before the Clippers trimmed the margin.

“It was a great response in the second half from everybody,” Kessler said. “But yeah, man, he’s an extremely talented player.”

Getting to that point required the Lakers to slow a Clippers offense that shot 63% from the field in the first quarter.

L.A. established its own presence inside early, scoring 12 of its first 16 points in the paint. But the Clippers’ shooting put the Lakers behind before their defensive activity helped change the game.

Kessler accounted for three of the Lakers’ four blocks in the second quarter as they erased the deficit. By halftime, L.A. had combined for 11 steals and blocks.

Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams contributed at both ends, finishing with 13 and 14 points, respectively. Redick praised their work against Darius Garland and pointed to Thybulle’s second-half 3-pointers as momentum-changing plays.

The defensive effort also received an immediate contribution from Collin Sexton, who collected a steal shortly after checking in for his Lakers debut.

“He gets the guys going with just his energy,” Kessler said. “That kind of stuff is contagious.”

Still, the Lakers left with an issue Redick had emphasized before tipoff: taking care of the ball.

They committed 21 turnovers, and Redick was dissatisfied with their execution against the Clippers’ trapping defense while protecting a double-digit lead. The mistakes gave L.A. another area to address despite its productive offensive night.

“We know the turnovers is a problem,” Redick said. “We’ll continue to work at it, continue to get better at it.”

For a second consecutive game, however, the Lakers received enough from Dončić, Reaves and Kessler to finish with a win. Friday, their production came with a third-quarter defensive effort that gave the offense room to pull ahead.