Can the Lakers’ New-Look Roster Overcome the Clippers’ Strong Start? Prediction | October 24, 2026
Los Angeles Lakers
LA Clippers
The Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers head into the new NBA season after making significant changes to their rosters. Both teams started the regular season with convincing victories, with the Lakers defeating Golden State 127–105 and the Clippers beating Sacramento 121–96. With plenty of offensive talent on both sides and a strong recent home record for the Lakers in this matchup, the contest could produce an entertaining, high-scoring game.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers finished the 2025/26 regular season with a 53–29 record, placing fourth in the Western Conference and first in the Pacific Division. They averaged 116.3 points per game but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs after losing all four games against Oklahoma City. The franchise responded with a significant roster overhaul, building a new-look lineup around Luka Doncic.
Walker Kessler was among the notable additions, while Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes and Matisse Thybulle also strengthened the squad. Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura were among the players who re-signed during the offseason, giving the Lakers additional options as they look to improve on last season's playoff disappointment.
Their preseason campaign was inconsistent, producing two wins and three defeats, but the Lakers made an emphatic start to the regular season with a 127–105 victory over Golden State. Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while Austin Reaves added 23 points and six assists. Walker Kessler also made an immediate impact in his Lakers debut, recording 26 points and nine rebounds while shooting a perfect 12-of-12 from the field.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers finished the 2025/26 campaign with a 42–40 record, placing ninth in the Western Conference before losing to Golden State in the Play-In Tournament. They made major changes during the offseason, most notably trading Kawhi Leonard to Toronto in September in exchange for Gradey Dick, Brandon Ingram and draft picks.
Bradley Beal and Brook Lopez were among the other notable additions, giving the Clippers a different offensive profile heading into the new season. However, the reshaped roster will need time to develop consistency, especially with several players reportedly dealing with injuries.
The Clippers went 2–1 in preseason, defeating Golden State and Denver before losing to Toronto. They followed that with a commanding 121–96 win over Sacramento in their regular-season opener. Darius Garland led the way with 30 points, while Lopez contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds. Keaton Wagler also impressed with 15 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Despite the positive result, the Clippers had to manage several absences, with Beal, Ingram and Max Strus unavailable for the Sacramento game. Their availability for this matchup could affect the team's depth, but Garland's scoring ability and Lopez's presence inside give the Clippers a solid foundation.
Head-to-Head
The Lakers have enjoyed considerable success when hosting the Clippers at Crypto.com Arena, winning seven of their last eight home games against their city rivals.
The overall recent head-to-head picture is more balanced. Across the last six meetings in all competitions, including the NBA Summer League, both teams have recorded three victories each. However, the Lakers hold the edge over the longer sample, winning six of the last 10 encounters compared with four victories for the Clippers.
Key Trends
- The Lakers scored 127 points in their regular-season opener against Golden State.
- The Clippers scored 121 points in their opening win over Sacramento.
- Darius Garland recorded 30 points in the Clippers' first regular-season game.
- The Lakers have won 7 of their last 8 home games against the Clippers.
- The Lakers have won 6 of their last 10 meetings with the Clippers.
Prediction
Both teams have started the season with convincing victories and possess enough offensive quality to make this a competitive encounter. The Lakers have the advantage of playing at home, where their recent record against the Clippers has been particularly strong. Doncic's ability to create scoring opportunities, combined with Reaves' contribution and Kessler's presence inside, gives the hosts several ways to generate offense. The Clippers also demonstrated their scoring potential against Sacramento, with Garland leading the attack and Lopez contributing on both ends of the floor. Given the offensive production both teams showed in their opening games, another high-scoring performance is a reasonable expectation. Recommended Bet: Over 225 Total Points
