LAS VEGAS — Was the offense that bad or the defense that good? Well, it doesn’t really matter if a team comes out with a win. The battle of Los Angeles belongs to the little brother as the Los Angeles Clippers defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 67-58. With that win, the Clippers remain undefeated at 3-0 while the Lakers drop to 1-2.

The contest between the two LA teams was not a pretty sight to watch offensively, but defensively for the Clippers they were locked in and focused even after their previous game less than 24 hours ago against the Milwaukee Bucks. Clippers head coach Jeremy Castleberry made it known that every win isn’t going to be pretty.

Just gonna toss the whole thing on here from Jeremy Castleberry postgame

But highlighting the fact that Clippers outscored Lakers 19-3 on fast break, with Lakers missing 8 of 9 FGs on break

Castleberry praised LAC assistant Chris Holguin for running the defense this summer pic.twitter.com/xR42EcTNnG

— Law Murray 🎡 (@LawMurrayTheNU) July 15, 2025

In the first quarter, the Clippers had prime control being up 21-10 and going on as much as a 10-0 run. The first couple of games for the Clippers they have averaged 100.5 points. That would not be the case as they didn’t score past 70 points, but much like the main team’s identity, their defense carried them.One of the Lakers prime shooters Cole Swider struggled to score in the first three quarters because of the defensive pressure primarily guarded by Jordan Miller.

Miller led the Clippers in scoring with 19 points with seven rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. Prior to summer league, Miller was waived from the Clippers, but he was still active to represent the team for summer league. If he continues this level of play, he shouldn’t find any trouble locking up a roster spot.

I asked Jordan Miller what part of his game he thinks will be most important to show coaches & front offices that he belongs in the league.

His answer was as expected. Rooting for this guy! pic.twitter.com/gS1rsItthY

— Dime Dropper (@DimeDropperPod) July 12, 2025

Prior to halftime, the Lakers started to make a run of their own and mainly led by their guard Bronny James. He finished with a team high 17 points with five rebounds, five assists, and three turnovers. Due to the Lakers having an imbalanced offense, and one of their top players Dalton Knecht struggling offensively scoring only eight points going 3-15 from the field. This would open up the door for James to have a good performance, while showing the Clippers game plan was to take Snider and Knecht out the game as much as possible.

The Clippers first round pick Yanic Konan Niederhauser is seeming to find his footing and that opened up his opportunities for his teammates. Niederhauser finished the game with 10 points that were all dunks. Coming into the draft, he was known for his elite athleticism with high flying dunks mixed with blocks at the rim.

Yanic Konan Niederhäuser on being different tonight:

“When I left the hotel, I said ‘today, Konan gotta be here. Not Yanic. Konan the Barbarian.'” pic.twitter.com/1xyDFSZW1p

— Law Murray 🎡 (@LawMurrayTheNU) July 15, 2025

In the fourth quarter, both teams were still in reach. However, with a couple of wide open missed threes from Swider and Knecht mixed in with Miller’s scoring took a 59-58 lead with less than four mins left in the game up to a 67-58 win for the Clippers. 

The Clippers started strong and they ended stronger. There seems to be an identity being set for the Clippers that team defense has not died.As well as players can and will be asked to step up when someone is playing. Guards such as Cam Christie while he didn’t shoot the ball well made sure to make up with it on defense.

Both the Lakers and Clippers do not play again until  Thursday. The Lakers will face their rival Boston Celtics and the Clippers will be facing much of the same against the Denver Nuggets.