Lakers-Clippers game updates

Lakers lose 105-95 to Clippers.

Let the Lakers panic continue. They opened the season with an 0-3 record for the first time since the 1978-79 season. And no matter how much the Lakers stress patience with their development, the same problems continue.

Aside from Kobe Bryant’s 40 points on 14 of 23 shooting, the Lakers offense stalled. Dwight Howard got into foul trouble (five). The Lakers’ bench lacked much of anything, getting outscored 46-24.

Third quarter, Lakers trail 82-67

Plenty of Lakers fans streamed for the exits. That’s because the Lakers have a real shot at starting their season at 0-3 for the first time since 1978.

The reason for the Lakers looking flat against their cross-town rival?

Oh there’s plenty.

Aside from Kobe Bryant’s 23 points on seven of 15 shooting, the Lakers look lost offensively. They make attempt bad shots late in the shot clock. They throw poor passes en route to 15 turnovers. Dwight Howard picked up four fouls. And the Lakers have no bench (getting outscored 29-21).

Halftime, Lakers trail 52-47

Dwight Howard picked up three fouls. After explosive first quarter where he scored 14 points, Kobe Bryant didn’t record another point in the second quarter. And the Lakers struggled handling the Clippers’ speed that resulted in 12 fast-break points and a 4 of 12 mark from three-point range.

Still, the Lakers only trail by five points by hitting timely three-pointers. Plenty of Lakers’ role players hit such shots, including Steve Blake (two), Devin Ebanks (one) and Darius Morris (one).
First quarter, Lakers trail 28-23

The Lakers have two problems.

They’re not defending much. Anyone who’s not named Kobe Bryant also isn’t scoring.

But the Lakers trail only 28-23 to the Clippers after the first quarter, namely because Bryant carried them all the way. After missing Thursday’s practice to rest his bruised right foot, Bryant has looked explosive. He has scored 14 points by doing a bit of everything. He’s attacked the basket. He’s drawn fouls (five of five from the line). He’s also hit his lone three-point attempt.

But that hasn’t been enough.

Outside of Bryant, the Lakers shot only 3 of 9 from the field. Meanwhile, the Lakers allowed the Clippers to shoot 45.8 percent and outrebound them 11-8.