It was a nationally televised game on TNT, with the expectation that the masses would see the star power from the Clippers and Lakers.
Instead, what fans from around the nation and those inside Staples Center got to watch Friday night were players from the Clippers who wouldn’t be recognized without a program during their 111-104 loss to the Lakers in both teams’ final exhibition game before 16,711 fans.
They will meet in the regular-season opener Thursday.
The Lakers stayed with mostly familiar faces, aside from rookie point guard Lonzo Ball, who missed his fourth straight game with a sprained left ankle.