The Lakers played the Clippers on Wednesday without Luka Doncic, who was out with back tightness, and won 103-87. Ziaire Williams (left foot soreness) was also out. Yahoo Sports and Sportsnet both said the team announced the absences. ESPN listed Doncic as "back" and Williams as "foot." ESPN also said the Clippers were without Rui Hachimura (quad).

Silver Screen and Roll, the only outlet to say so, reported that this was the Lakers' first back-to-back of the season. It also said the injury report came out hours before tip-off, after Tuesday's loss to Portland, and that Doncic had not missed a game yet this season. Yahoo's summary describes the Wednesday game as the second night of a back-to-back that followed the Lakers' 136-129 loss to the Trail Blazers. None of the reporting we have gives a timeline for Doncic's return or says whether the absence was precautionary.

The back tightness comes after heavy early-season use. Doncic scored 28 against Golden State on Oct. 21, then 52 at Utah on Oct. 25, then 41 against Portland on Tuesday. That is 121 points in three regular-season games, about 40 a night, and he played 37 minutes against the Blazers. Last season he averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.7 assists in 50 games for Los Angeles.

The Lakers handled it. In the win at the Clippers, Quentin Grimes scored 23 and Collin Sexton added 21 in 21 minutes. Matisse Thybulle hit four of five threes for 15, and Austin Reaves had 16 points but also eight turnovers. The Lakers led by as many as 23. They scored 24 fast-break points to the Clippers' 6, and 48 points in the paint to 28. The Clippers shot 35 percent and turned the ball over 24 times, which led to 31 Lakers points.

The Lakers are 3-1 and first in the Pacific, with one win in their last two games. Williams had started all three of his games this season, averaging 28.3 minutes and shooting 52.2 percent, so the Lakers lost a starter as well as their star. The Clippers are 1-2 and have lost two straight, after a 108-101 loss at Oklahoma City on Sunday.

Both teams play Friday, Oct. 30. The Lakers are at Golden State, where Doncic's status is the open question. The Clippers are at Minnesota. Neither team had given an update on Doncic, Williams or Hachimura in the reporting we have.