Los Angeles Lakers vs LA Clippers Picks and Predictions for Wednesday October 28 2026
The Clippers already had one shot at the Lakers this season. They lost 125-117, and now they get another one Wednesday night. You’d think having the Lakers come in on the second night of a back-to-back would make me want to take the Clippers. It doesn’t. Not with the way Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have been playing. The Lakers have scored at least 125 in all three of their games, and the Clippers are missing too many guys who could help slow that offense down. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Clippers keep it close. Winning it is another matter.
The two Los Angeles teams meet at Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Wednesday, October 28, at 10:30 PM ET. The Lakers have Portland on Tuesday, so they’ll be playing for the second straight night. The Clippers haven’t played since Sunday’s loss at Oklahoma City. I’m leaning Lakers on the moneyline and Over 229.5 points, although that total is a target number rather than a confirmed line. Be ready for the entire NBA season with our free NBA picks.
Lakers Have Been Getting Whatever Shots They Want
The Lakers are 3-0 heading into Tuesday, and they’ve been putting points on the board in a hurry. They beat Golden State in the opener, took care of the Clippers 125-117 on Friday, and then went into Utah and won 132-123 on Sunday. Three games, three wins, and the offense hasn’t had much trouble finding its way. The defense has given up some points, but when you’re scoring 125 or more every night, you can get away with a few mistakes.
They’re averaging 128 points and allowing 115. That’s a pretty wide gap, although we’re only talking about three games. The Lakers have been getting into the paint, moving the ball and making teams choose between helping on Doncic or staying home on the shooters. The Clippers saw that problem firsthand Friday. They couldn’t consistently keep the Lakers from getting good looks, and now they’ve got to figure out how to do it with a short-handed rotation. I don’t see an easy answer.
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Doncic is averaging 34.3 points and eight assists. He’s been getting to his spots without much trouble, and when a defense sends extra help, he’s finding somebody else. Reaves is putting up 26.7 points a game, which means the Clippers can’t just load everything toward Doncic. Walker Kessler has been giving the Lakers eight rebounds and three blocks a night, and that’s helped them around the basket. Cameron Carr and Adou Thiero have been dealing with injuries, but the main scoring options have been available. The question Wednesday is how much energy they’ll have after Tuesday’s game.
Clippers Need Somebody Else to Step Up
The Clippers are 1-2, and they’ve already had a couple of games where the offense went quiet at the wrong time. They lost to the Lakers 125-117, then went to Oklahoma City on Sunday and lost 108-101. That’s not a terrible score against the Thunder, but the Clippers couldn’t get enough baskets when they needed them. Now they’re back home, and they’ve got to deal with a Lakers team that already scored 125 against them. At least they’ve had an extra day to prepare.
The Clippers are averaging 113 points and allowing around 110. Those numbers aren’t bad, but I don’t think they tell the whole story. They need more reliable scoring when the game slows down. The Lakers can put the ball in Doncic’s hands and let him work. The Clippers haven’t had that same consistency. They can defend in stretches, but Friday showed how quickly the Lakers can put together a run when the Clippers lose track of shooters or give up an easy basket in transition.
Darius Garland is averaging 24 points and seven assists, and he’s the guy the Clippers need to have a big night. Brook Lopez has been scoring 18 a game and gives them a center who can step outside and hit shots. That could pull Kessler away from the rim, which is something the Clippers should try. But the injuries are a real problem. Bradley Beal is out with a knee injury, Brandon Ingram has a heel issue, and Jordan Miller is sidelined with a shoulder injury. Max Strus and Yanic Konan Niederhauser are also unavailable. That’s a lot of offense and depth sitting on the bench.
Los Angeles Lakers vs LA Clippers Picks and Predictions
Los Angeles Lakers Moneyline
I’m taking the Lakers again. The Clippers have the rest advantage, and that’s the part that gives me some hesitation. If the Lakers have to play their starters heavy minutes against Portland on Tuesday, Wednesday could get uncomfortable. But I keep coming back to the first meeting. Doncic and Reaves have been scoring almost 61 points a game between them, and the Clippers haven’t shown they can slow that combination down. Garland can have a good night and still lose if the Clippers don’t get enough help from everybody else. I’d rather have the Lakers’ offense in a close fourth quarter. Give me the Lakers to make it two wins over the Clippers.
Over 229.5 — Target Total
I’ll take Over 229.5 if that’s the number. The first meeting had 242 points, and the Lakers have been scoring 128 a night. The Clippers don’t need to score 125 for this to get over. If the Lakers get into the low 120s, the Clippers only need something around 110. That’s manageable with Garland and Lopez, especially against a Lakers defense that’s been allowing 115. The back-to-back could slow the Lakers down, and that’s the biggest concern. If their legs are tired and the Clippers decide to grind through longer possessions, this could end up in the low 220s. But I think both teams have enough scoring to get past 229.5. Lakers 122-113 is where I’m leaning.
Final Picks: Los Angeles Lakers Moneyline and Over 229.5 (target total)
Preview revised October 27, 2026.
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