Los Angeles at Los Angeles

The Lakers took their first loss of the season Tuesday night, 136-129 to Portland, and the Trail Blazers shot 59% from the field doing it. Tonight is the second half of a back-to-back, the first one on the Lakers' schedule this year. Los Angeles is 3-1, and its four opponents have scored 105, 117, 123 and 136, more with each game. The 117 belonged to these Clippers on Friday. The game was tied 64-64 at halftime, and the Lakers needed a 39-26 third quarter to separate. The Clippers won the fourth quarter 27-22. Darius Garland scored 26 in that game with nine turnovers, and ball security is the part of his night that can be fixed. The Clippers are 1-2 after Sunday's 108-101 loss at Oklahoma City, which is still unbeaten. They are also without Rui Hachimura, who scored 16 Friday and is the one change from that lineup. Brook Lopez came off the bench for 22 points on 8-of-9 shooting in that first meeting, so Los Angeles will have to find a way to defend someone other than the starters. With the Lakers' defense giving up more every night and tired legs on top of that, I make the Clippers the right side on the spread tonight.