The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Clippers on Wednesday without Luka Dončić, the Los Angeles Times and New York Post report.

Dončić, the NBA's leading scorer, missed his first game of the season with back tightness, the Times reports. Ziaire Williams also sat out with a sore left foot. It was the second night of back-to-back games after a home loss to Portland on Tuesday.

The final score was 103-87, according to the NBA's official box score, matching the Times.

Collin Sexton led the way off the bench with 21 points. He scored 11 in the third quarter, the Times reports, as the Lakers opened a 22-point lead. The Post reports he scored nine straight late in the third.

Quentin Grimes, starting for the first time, had a season-high 23 points, five assists and four steals, the Post reports. Matisse Thybulle scored 15 on 5-of-6 shooting. Austin Reaves added 16 points, though the Post reports he also had eight turnovers.

"I love the competitive fire," Lakers coach JJ Redick said of Sexton.

Jarred Vanderbilt made his season debut and was plus-22 in 21 minutes, the Post reports.

Redick said the team was being careful with its injured players. "We have a tough stretch of games," he said. Asked if Dončić and Williams could play Friday at Golden State, he said, "That's the hope."

The Clippers were also short-handed, playing without Rui Hachimura, Brandon Ingram and Bradley Beal, the Post reports.

What we know: The Lakers won without Dončić and improved to 4-1.
What we don't: Whether Dončić will be back Friday against Golden State.