The Clippers didn’t just show up Thursday night - they came out firing and never really let their foot off the gas until it mattered most. From the opening tip, they were the sharper, more connected team, jumping out to a double-digit lead early and dictating the tempo against a Lakers squad that looked flat-footed defensively.
By halftime, the scoreboard told the story. Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac, and James Harden were already in double figures, operating with a rhythm that made the Clippers’ offense look effortless.
Off the bench, Kobe Sanders gave them a jolt - a perfect 3-for-3 from deep that stretched the lead and deflated any early momentum the Lakers tried to build. At the break, the Clippers were up 17, and it felt like the game was teetering on the edge of a blowout.
To their credit, the Lakers didn’t fold. They clawed their way back into it, turning what looked like a runaway into a nail-biter down the stretch. But ultimately, the comeback fell short - and the reason why was clear.
The Lakers lost this game in the first half.
After the game, Luka Dončić didn’t sugarcoat it. “We just got to be better in the first half,” he said.
“The last three games, I think our defense was excellent in the second half. We just have to translate that to the first half.”
He’s not wrong. The Lakers have developed a troubling pattern lately - digging themselves into double-digit holes early and then trying to scratch and claw their way back.
In two of their last three games, they’ve trailed by 13 or more going into the third quarter. That kind of deficit is a tough ask to overcome night after night, especially in a Western Conference where margins are razor thin.
Head coach JJ Redick pointed to another issue postgame: ball movement. He emphasized the need for more trust and sharing on offense.
And he’s got a point. When the Lakers are at their best, the ball doesn’t stick.
It moves freely, finding the open man, creating rhythm and flow. Against the Clippers, that trust wasn’t there early, and the offense stalled because of it.
It’s a simple truth in basketball: you can’t win a game in the first quarter, but you can absolutely lose one. Falling behind by 15 or more means you need a lot of things to go your way just to have a chance - the other team has to cool off, the refs have to stay out of it, and your execution down the stretch has to be nearly flawless.
That’s a tough formula to rely on, especially on the road.
Yes, the Lakers pulled it off recently against the Nuggets, but that kind of comeback can’t be the blueprint. Good teams don’t live on miracles - they build leads, sustain effort, and close games out.
That’s how you win consistently. That’s how you build a culture.
And that’s how you survive in a brutal Western Conference playoff race.
Thursday night’s loss to the Clippers wasn’t just another L in the standings - it was a reminder. If the Lakers want to be the team they believe they can be come playoff time, they’ve got to start playing 48 minutes of connected, disciplined basketball.
Not 24. Not 18.
The full 48.