The Lakers came into Saturday night’s matchup looking to build some momentum, but what unfolded in the first half against the Clippers was anything but encouraging. Offensively, it was one of their most stagnant starts of the season.
They managed just 39 points through two quarters, shooting an icy 34.1% from the field and an even colder 2-of-19 from deep. That kind of shooting slump is tough to overcome in any game, let alone against a team hungry to prove something-regardless of their record.
The Clippers, despite entering the game with a 6-21 mark, took full advantage of the Lakers’ sluggish start. They jumped out to a 15-point halftime lead, controlling the tempo and capitalizing on the Lakers’ offensive misfires. The Lakers simply couldn’t find a rhythm, and with key rotation players already sidelined, the margin for error was razor thin.
Meanwhile, Luka Doncic had a rough night of his own. He struggled to get anything going offensively, finishing just 4-of-13 from the field.
In the second quarter, he appeared to tweak his leg and was visibly limping afterward. Though he stayed in the game initially, he didn’t return to start the third quarter.
According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Doncic was later ruled out for the rest of the game due to a leg contusion.
For the Lakers, the injury bug continues to bite. Already without Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton, Gabe Vincent, and Rui Hachimura, they were severely shorthanded from the jump.
That lack of depth made it even harder to climb out of the early hole they dug for themselves. When you’re missing that many key contributors, your margin for error shrinks dramatically-and on a night when the shots weren’t falling, it showed.
Looking ahead, the Lakers won’t have much time to regroup. They’re back in action on Tuesday, Dec. 23, when they face the Phoenix Suns. If they want to get back on track, they’ll need a much sharper start-and hopefully, a healthier roster.