By Tim Byrnes
***Singer Reina Macias did an inspiring rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner to open the game, and both teams managed to refrain from LeBron-like foolishness. Everyone stood at attention for the entire song, with no golf swings or jumping jacks.
***The Lakers had 28 assists in the season opener, and 29 against the Clippers, but their 21 turnovers (Luka Doncic-11) had this game closer than it needed to be.
***Doncic rang up 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists but was only 8-of-21 shooting (2-of-10 in the 1st), to go along with the career-high 11 turnovers. His 32.1 career average versus the Clippers is the highest scoring average against the franchise, topping legends George Gervin (29.6), Kevin Durant (27.1), and Michael Jordan (26.7).
***The Clippers Brooke Lopez had 15 points in his first four minutes of playing time, and finished with 22 points in the loss. Former Laker forward Rui Hachimura scored 16 points and grabbed six boards.
***The Lakers overcame an 11-point first-half deficit to tie it at 64-64 at halftime.
***Austin Reaves had 13 points in the 3rd-quarter, including nine consecutive points over a 1:35 stretch, and the Lakers opened up a 13-point advantage going into the fourth. Reaves led the team with 28 points and 9 boards.
***The Lakers “Big Three” of Doncic, Reaves, and Walker Kessler combined for 73 points, 16 rebounds, 19 assists, five steals, and seven blocks…
***Kessler is 22-of-26 (.846) from the field in his first two games with the Lakers, and it looks promising that the steep price paid for him will pan out. He is averaging 24 points, 8.5 boards, and four blocks per game.
***Most NBA pundits have been saying that the team overpaid, when L.A. gave up two unprotected first-round draft picks (in 2031 & 2033), and two first-round pick swaps (2028 & 2030) before signing C Walker Kessler to a massive four-year, $130 million extension.
***The Clippers made it interesting by coming back from a 115-100 deficit with 6:57 left, and got within six with about three minutes left, but went 1-for-7 the rest of the way.
***The Lakers improved to 2-0, the Clippers are 1-1
