Clippers vs. Lakers Prediction: Preview, Injury Report, Advantages, And X-Factors
The Los Angeles Lakers visit the LA Clippers at Intuit Dome on Wednesday, October 28, at 10:30 PM ET.
Latest news and updates about the Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers visit the LA Clippers at Intuit Dome on Wednesday, October 28, at 10:30 PM ET.
While he has divested himself from a big chunk of his sports portfolio, Mark Walter has no plans to sell his stake in the Los Angeles Dodgers.
After the Knicks clinched their first title in 53 years, NBA X/Twitter star World Wide Wob (real name Rob Perez) quits his million‑follower account. In a Front Office Sports interview, Perez cites the Knicks’ win, X’s shift to a For‑You feed, turnover in X’s sports team, and low creator payouts as reasons for his burnout after 15 years of nonstop content. At 39, he feels financially secure and plans to post NBA bits on Threads, cover LA police chases on Twitch, and run merch sales. He also weighed in on the Lakers’ fire sale and the Clippers’ cap‑circumvention penalties, noting the impact on owners like Jeanie Buss and Steve Ballmer.
Luka Doncic sits out the Lakers’ second game of the season, missing Wednesday’s matchup against the Clippers due to back tightness. The guard tossed 41 points in the Lakers’ 136-129 opening‑night loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, but will be unavailable after receiving extended treatment. Forward Ziaire Williams also misses with left‑foot soreness, and the Clippers face a 10‑player injury list, including Brandon Ingram and Bradley Beal. The game kicks off at 7:30 PM PST.
The Lakers signed former Golden State Warriors center Kevon Looney over the offseason.
Ziaire Williams defends a flopping technical he received during the Lakers’ 136-129 loss to Portland on Oct. 25, arguing the forearm contact from Deni Avdija forced him backward. The NBA fined him $2,000 for a similar incident against Utah the previous night, marking the league’s heightened focus on flopping for 2026‑27. Williams maintains he didn’t flop, saying he only used his arms to stay upright. Despite the controversy, he’s off to a strong start with Los Angeles, averaging 11.3 points, 3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals in four games while shooting 69.2% inside and 46.7% from three. The Lakers hope he can avoid further calls as they face the Clippers on Wednesday.
Two‑time Lakers champion Lamar Odom announces he’s joining OnlyFans, teasing “risqué” and more personal content. The 46‑year‑old promoted the new account on Instagram on Oct. 27 and told TMZ the platform won’t be what people expect, hinting at “surprises” and possible joint posts with girlfriend Rachel Bradley, who also launched an account. Known for his 2009‑10 titles with Kobe Bryant and a 2011 Sixth Man award, Odom’s move marks a new chapter beyond his NBA legacy and past reality‑TV spotlight.
In his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers, veteran guard Collin Sexton embraces a leadership role after the departures of LeBron James and Marcus Smart. Despite a preseason calf injury that kept him out of the opening win over Golden State, Sexton has sparked the locker room with his vocal, high‑energy approach, which coach JJ Redick calls “a little bit of insanity.” He’s appeared in three games, averaging 9.0 points, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steal while shooting 39.3% from the floor. Teammates like Walker Kessler praise his intensity and belief that his impact extends far beyond the box score.
The Lakers fall 136-129 to the Portland Trail Blazers in their season opener, exposing defensive lapses despite a booming offense that ranks second in the league at 129.3 points per game. Luka Dončić leads with 41 points, nine assists and five rebounds, while Austin Reaves adds 26 points and 63.6% shooting. Center Walker Kessler and others also hit double‑digits, but players admit the lack of defensive discipline cost the win. Coach and stars stress tightening base coverage and improving discipline to turn the high‑scoring squad into a championship contender.
The Lakers’ 129–136 loss to Portland highlights defensive lapses, with center Walker Kessler vowing personal improvement. In Minnesota, Anthony Edwards drops 47 points but aggravates a knee injury, facing arthroscopic surgery that could sideline him until December. Detroit’s Paul Reed scores 22 with nine boards, yet the Pistons struggle to replace Jalen Duren’s production as both Reed and Tolu Smith encounter foul trouble while Karl‑Anthony Towns posts 27 points and 20 rebounds against the Knicks.
The Clippers will be without former Laker forward Rui Hachimura on Wednesday night as he’s ruled out with left‑quad soreness, according to the NBA injury report. Hachimura, who joined LA this offseason and helped Los Angeles lose 125‑117 to the Lakers earlier this season, will watch from the bench in what could be a revenge game. The Clippers list six players on the injury sheet, including Bradley Beal and Brandon Ingram, while the Lakers have not released a report after a 136‑129 loss to Portland.
Rookie Cameron Carr is taking a major step toward returning to the Los Angeles Lakers after a right oblique strain sidelined him since Oct. 6. Coach JJ Redick confirmed Carr completed a full practice with the Coachella Valley Lakers on Tuesday, a key checkpoint for his rehab and ability to absorb contact. Carr posted 19 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in his preseason debut versus the Sacramento Kings, followed by a modest five‑point effort against the Warriors. The Lakers hope his G League stint with Coachella Valley, which starts Nov. 6 against the Salt Lake City Stars, will keep him ready for a big‑league role.
Portland Trail Blazers beat Los Angeles Lakers 136-129 on Tuesday with Deni Avdija leading four scorers in double figures, improving to 3-0.
The Milwaukee Bucks clinch a narrow win over the Indiana Pacers and keep forward Pete Nance on the roster after he rejected two‑way offers from the Lakers and 76ers. Insider Marc Stein reports the Bucks persuaded the 26‑year‑old, who went undrafted in 2023 and has shuffled between teams, to stay with Milwaukee on another two‑way deal. Nance appeared in 47 games last season, starting six, providing size and athleticism at power forward. The Bucks, now in a rebuilding phase, host the Houston Rockets Wednesday night.
The Los Angeles Lakers' early concerns are not exclusive to just defense. Rebounding has been a big problem, too.
Jeanie Buss says she was "stunned" when Mark Walter’s agreement to sell his Lakers stake to former Disney CEO Bob Iger and investor Josh Kushner was revealed hours before ESPN broke the story on Aug. 12. The $12.5 billion deal, the most expensive sports franchise sale ever, also saw the five Buss siblings vote to sell their shares, ending the family's control of the team. While legal battles linger, the Lakers are performing on the court, with Luka Doncic back in All‑Star form and rookie Walker Kessler making an instant impact early in the 2026‑27 season. The ownership shake‑up could become a footnote if Los Angeles mounts a title run.
The Portland Trail Blazers extend their perfect start to 3‑0 with a thrilling 112‑106 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 28, 2026. Ja Morant ignites the comeback, hitting a go‑ahead floater and finishing with 23 points and four assists, while Damian Lillard seals the game with a dagger three‑pointer. Post‑game, teammate Micah Porter bursts into Morant’s interview to shout “Call Ja!” and hype the backcourt duo, prompting Morant to celebrate Lillard’s “Dame Time” moment. The video‑bomb highlights the chemistry that could make Portland a contender after last season’s early exit.
As the Lakers explore more options to bolster their center rotation, we examine a potential trade idea involving the Magic.
Chris Mañon, Arthur Kaluma, and AK Okereke could soon find themselves looking over their shoulders if the Los Angeles Lakers start looking for center help.
The Lakers’ 136–131 home loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Oct. 28, 2026 sparked immediate backlash against coach JJ Redick after he kept Luka Doncic on the bench for a crucial stretch early in the fourth quarter. Doncic posted a historic 41‑point, 9‑assist night—his 20th 40‑point game for LA, joining Kobe Bryant, Shaq and Jerry West—but he didn’t return until the 7:18 mark, by which time Portland had seized a 15‑8 run and secured the win with a late three from Damian Lillard. Fans flooded social media criticizing Redick’s rotation choices, while the Blazers leaned on balanced scoring from Lillard (21), Ja Morant (23) and Deni Avdija (23). The defeat ends the Lakers’ 3‑0 start and raises questions about Redick’s late‑game management before the next matchup against the Clippers.
Walker Kessler admits the Los Angeles Lakers fell short defensively in a 136-129 loss to a revitalized Portland Trail Blazers, who are now bolstered by Ja Morant and Damian Lillard. Kessler criticized the team's half‑court defense, highlighting issues with corner and above‑the‑break threes, and acknowledged his own role as a defensive leader. He also pointed to the rebound disparity—Portland 38, L.A. 31—and emphasized the need to improve aggression and ball pursuit before a back‑to‑back against the Clippers. The post first appeared on ClutchPoints.
Trail Blazers hand Lakers their first loss in a wild shootout
Ja Morant celebrates Damian Lillard’s game‑winning three with the signature “Dame Time” gesture as the Portland Trail Blazers rally to a 136‑129 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 28, 2026. Lillard finishes with 21 points, while Morant adds 23 and Deni Avdija 23 as Portland improves to 3‑0. The post‑game celebration prompts two courtside fans to ‘rage quit.’ Morant, who joined Portland via a trade for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, says the duo’s chemistry is a “pick your fighter or pick your poison” situation. The Blazers host Memphis next Friday.
The Los Angeles Lakers lost their first game of the season 136-129 to the Portland Trail Blazers. It was a reminder of why JJ Redick focused on defense in training camp.
Damian Lillard delivers his first “Dame Time” of the season, hitting a clutch step‑back shot that puts the Portland Trail Blazers ahead by six with 42.8 seconds left in an upset win over the LA Lakers. Lillard finishes with 21 points, 10 in the fourth quarter, while Ja Morent and Deni Avdija each add 23 points and Avdija dishes out nine assists. Jrue Holiday contributes 22 off the bench. After the game, Lillard and Morant praise the decisive play, and the Blazers head home for a Thursday night matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies.