Good morning. The Lakers won the first Battle of L.A. Austin Reaves scored 28, Walker Kessler had 22 points and six blocks, and the Clippers turned it over 26 times in a 125-117 loss. The Lakers are 2-0. Saturday is full. The Ducks are in Philadelphia at 10 a.m., the Kings are in New Jersey at 12:30, and No. 9 UCLA hosts Michigan State at the same time. USC plays at Wisconsin at 4:30, Vegas is at Columbus, and Angel City hosts Bay FC needing a win. Let’s get into it.
🚨 HEADLINES
🏀 2-0. Reaves, Dončić and Kessler combined for 73 as the Lakers beat the Clippers 125-117 — Carlos Yakimowich at Crypto.com Arena.
🏀 26 turnovers. “We fought, we played hard, but we didn’t play smart,” Tyronn Lue said — Eric Lambkins II at Crypto.com Arena.
🏈 “Opposite directions.” No. 9 UCLA hosts a Michigan State team on a five-game losing streak — Brady Charette.
🏀 All-WNBA. A’ja Wilson makes the first team for the sixth time and Jackie Young the second team — Derek Hegna.
🏀 Never trailed. Rodney Rice and Alijah Arenas led No. 21 USC past San Diego State 85-68 in an exhibition — The Sporting Tribune at Viejas Arena.
🥊 Haney to DAZN. The unbeaten welterweight champion signs a multi-fight deal — Michael Huezo.
See what else is trending at [The Sporting Tribune](https://www.thesportingtribune.com).
📋 SCOREBOARD — FRIDAY
🏀 NBA: Lakers 125, Clippers 117
🏀 College basketball (exhibition): USC 85, San Diego State 68
🏀 L.A. BELONGS TO THE LAKERS
The Clippers shot 63% in the first quarter and led most of the first half. It was tied at halftime. Then the Lakers won the third quarter 39-26 and led 103-90 going into the fourth.
Austin Reaves did most of it. Carlos Yakimowich writes that Reaves made nine of his first 10 shots, scored 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the third and finished with 28 points and nine assists. Walker Kessler had 22 points and six blocks, five of them in the second and third quarters. Luka Dončić started 2-for-10, finished with 23 and had a career-high 11 turnovers. The three of them combined for 73, two days after combining for 77 against Golden State. Ziaire Williams scored 14 and Matisse Thybulle 13.
“It just felt like Walker was everywhere, in that third and really was a huge spark for us getting us a win,” JJ Redick said. He wasn’t happy about the Lakers’ 21 turnovers: “We know the turnovers is a problem.”
The Clippers were worse. Eric Lambkins II writes they turned it over 26 times and gave up 33 points off those turnovers. Darius Garland had 26 points and nine turnovers, Brook Lopez scored 22, and Rui Hachimura, back at Crypto.com Arena, had 16 points and six rebounds. “You can’t play against a good team and turn over 26 times and expect to win the game,” Tyronn Lue said. “We fought, we played hard, but we didn’t play smart.”
The Lakers are 2-0. The Clippers (1-1) play Oklahoma City next.
GO DEEPER
› Carlos Yakimowich: Lakers outlast Clippers behind big three (The Sporting Tribune)
› Eric Lambkins II: Clippers beat themselves in 125-117 loss against Lakers (The Sporting Tribune)
› TST Images: Lakers defeat Clippers, 125-117, at Crypto.com Arena (The Sporting Tribune)
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🏈 SEVEN AND OH?
No. 9 UCLA is 6-0 and the last unbeaten team in the Big Ten. Michigan State has lost five straight. Brady Charette calls them “two teams who appear to be heading in opposite directions.” Kickoff is 12:30 on CBS at the Rose Bowl, and a win would give UCLA its best start in two decades.
Ty Dieffenbach starts again at quarterback. Charette’s keys: UCLA leads the Big Ten in rushing behind Wayne Knight, and Michigan State allows the fifth-most rushing yards in the conference. UCLA leads the Big Ten with 19 takeaways, and Michigan State has forced three, tied for the fewest in the country.
USC is at Wisconsin at 4:30 on NBC. Holdenn Graff writes that the Trojans bring their composure from the win at Penn State to Camp Randall, where quarterback Colton Joseph has run for 333 yards. Wisconsin held UCLA to 17 points last week.
GO DEEPER
› Brady Charette: UCLA-Michigan State Preview: Unbeaten Bruins aim to continue historic rise against sputtering Spartans (The Sporting Tribune)
› Holdenn Graff: The USC defense brings its Penn State composure to Camp Randall (The Sporting Tribune)
🍔 THE DEALS BOARD
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🌮 Jack in the Box — two free tacos with any drink after the Lakers beat the Clippers. Code LETSGOLAKERS in the Jack in the Box app or online.
Today’s trigger to watch: a Kings goal in the final minute of the second period in New Jersey gets a free McFlurry at McDonald’s. The Ducks’ McGriddles need a home win, and their next home game is Tuesday.
🏟️ NINE GAMES, ONE SATURDAY
Ducks at Flyers at 10 a.m. on Prime Video, the end of the road trip. The Ducks (4-6-0) have lost five straight.
Kings at Devils at 12:30 on ABTV. The Kings (2-4-2) have won two straight, with Darcy Kuemper making 71 saves in those two games.
Michigan State at UCLA at 12:30 on CBS. Hawai’i at Northern Illinois at 12:30 on MW+, with the Rainbow Warriors (1-6) trying to end a four-game losing streak.
San Diego State at Colorado State at 3:30 on the CW. The Aztecs (3-4) are coming off the Old Oil Can win over Fresno State.
Golden Knights at Blue Jackets at 4 on ESPN+. Vegas (8-4) has lost back-to-back games 6-2, and Ryan Craig said, “I expect a response.”
USC at Wisconsin at 4:30 on NBC.
Bay FC at Angel City at 5:45 on ION, at BMO Stadium. Angel City is unbeaten in eight and needs to win its last two to host a playoff game.
Sounders San Diego FC at 7:30 on Apple TV.
Sunday: Rams at Raiders at Allegiant Stadium, El Tráfico, and Boston Legacy at the Wave.
📌 AROUND THE MARKETS
A’ja Wilson, All-WNBA again. Derek Hegna writes that Wilson made the first team for the sixth time after leading the league in scoring (26.2) and blocks and winning her third straight MVP. Jackie Young made the second team for the third time after career highs in points and assists. Wilson had campaigned for her in September: “All-WNBA, 100 percent. I ain’t got a vote but, if I did, I’d give it to Jackie.”
The Raiders’ run game. Steve Carp writes the Raiders are 30th in rushing at 3.0 yards a carry, and Ashton Jeanty is averaging 3.2. Mike Washington Jr. is questionable. The Rams are 26th against the run. “Got to quit talking about it, and we got to go do it,” Klint Kubiak said. Derek Hegna reports Tonka Hemingway is back from the concussion protocol. On the Rams side, Puka Nacua left Thursday’s practice with a calf injury.
USC basketball looks ready. Rodney Rice scored 23 with five 3-pointers, Alijah Arenas had 22 points and 12 rebounds, and the No. 21 Trojans never trailed in an 85-68 exhibition win at San Diego State. They forced 20 turnovers. The season opener is Nov. 2 against Milwaukee.
Haney signs with DAZN. Michael Huezo writes that Devin Haney (33-0), the WBO welterweight champion, signed an exclusive multi-fight deal through his promotional company. A unification fight with IBF champion Liam Paro is reportedly targeted for December.
GO DEEPER
› Derek Hegna: A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young continue dominance with All-WNBA selections (The Sporting Tribune)
› Steve Carp: Can Raiders’ struggling run game break out vs. Rams? (The Sporting Tribune)
› Derek Hegna: Raiders hoping to finally turn the corner with the injury bug (The Sporting Tribune)
› Rodney Rice, Alijah Arenas lead No. 21 USC past San Diego State in 85-68 exhibition win (The Sporting Tribune)
› Michael Huezo: Devin Haney signs exclusive multi-fight deal with DAZN (The Sporting Tribune)
📺 WATCHLIST — SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24
🏒 NHL: Ducks at Flyers — Wells Fargo Center — 10:00 a.m. — Prime Video
🏒 NHL: Kings at Devils — Prudential Center — 12:30 p.m. — ABTV
🏈 College football: Michigan State at UCLA — Rose Bowl — 12:30 p.m. — CBS
🏈 College football: Hawai’i at Northern Illinois — Huskie Stadium — 12:30 p.m. — MW+
🏈 College football: San Diego State at Colorado State — Canvas Stadium — 3:30 p.m. — CW
🏒 NHL: Golden Knights at Blue Jackets — Nationwide Arena — 4:00 p.m. — ESPN+
🏈 College football: USC at Wisconsin — Camp Randall Stadium — 4:30 p.m. — NBC
⚽ NWSL: Bay FC at Angel City FC — BMO Stadium — 5:45 p.m. — ION
⚽ MLS: Sounders at San Diego FC — Snapdragon Stadium — 7:30 p.m. — Apple TV
🎟️ GOING TO A GAME?
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🏈 Michigan State at UCLA — Rose Bowl — $21
⚽ Bay FC at Angel City — BMO Stadium — $23
🏈 Rams at Raiders — Allegiant Stadium (Sunday) — $250
🌴 TST TRIVIA
Rui Hachimura, now with the Clippers, began his NBA career with which team after it drafted him in 2019?
Answer at the bottom.
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Trivia answer: The Washington Wizards, who took him ninth overall.
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