LOS ANGELES — The Lakers’ first game of the season with a fully healthy roster on Friday night against the Clippers provided all of the glimpses of optimism a stakeholder could hope for.
It also highlighted some of their biggest concerns.
The good for the Lakers in their 125-122 win over the Clippers: Luka Dončić’s hot start, and the offense looking dominant for significant stretches.
Also, the starting lineup of Dončić, Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart, LeBron James and Deandre Ayton looked like a natural fit.
But the concerns remained the same, with the Lakers defense struggling to get stops for significant stretches.
But they got the most important one of the night atCrypto.comArena when Nic Batum missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer, with the Lakers’ maintaining a 3-point lead, their winning margin.
Dončić led with the Lakers with 38 points, 11 assists and six rebounds. Reaves added an efficient 29 points and six rebounds in his first game back in the starting lineup since December, while LeBron James had a 13-point, 11-assist double-double.
The Lakers improved to 34-21, including 16-10 at home.
The Clippers (27-29) missed out on a chance to improve to .500 for the first time since early November.
Leonard was ruled out because of left ankle soreness late in the fourth quarter.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
