Clippers and Lakers Collide at Crypto.com With Perfect Records on the Line
Two teams, one arena, zero losses — something has to give Friday night when the Clippers visit the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. This is the kind of early-season measuring stick game that tells you more about a roster's identity than a month of non-rivalry matchups ever could.
The Lakers hold home court here, and Luka Doncic is the reason this team looks dangerous from the jump. Averaging 28.0 points and 7.0 assists per game through one contest, Doncic is doing exactly what you bring a player of his caliber to Los Angeles to do — carry the offensive load while keeping teammates involved. Walker Kessler has been the anchor on the glass, pulling down 9.0 rebounds per game, which matters enormously in a game where second-chance points could be the difference between staying unbeaten and absorbing the first loss of the young season.
The Clippers, though, are not walking into Crypto.com Arena short on firepower. Darius Garland is the most dangerous offensive player on their roster right now, posting 30.0 points per game — the highest scoring average of any player in this matchup. If Garland gets comfortable in the mid-range and the Clippers' defense forces Doncic into a difficult night, Los Angeles's other Los Angeles team has a real path to 2-0. Brook Lopez adds a physical dimension the Clippers can lean on, averaging 11.0 rebounds per game, which gives them a legitimate chance to control the glass against Kessler. Kris Dunn running the offense at 7.0 assists per game means the ball is moving — this is not a one-man show on the Clippers' end.
Our model does not have a validated read on this game, so I won't pretend there's a clean lean to offer. What I will say — and this is pure analysis — is that the Garland-versus-Doncic scoring duel is the thread worth pulling all night. Garland's 30.0 PPG edge over Doncic's 28.0 is marginal, but the player who gets the better of that individual battle will likely drag his team to 2-0. Tip-off is 10:00 PM ET, available on NBA League Pass, ClipperVision, Spectrum Sports Net, and Spectrum Sports Net +. Don't miss this one.