Lakers' free-throw edge meets a Clippers defense ranked 16th

The Lakers (53-29 last season) take the league's best free throw rate into a Friday, October 23, game against the Clippers (42-40), whose defense ranked 16th in shot quality allowed; tip-off is 10:00 PM ET.

Last season the Lakers posted an effective field goal percentage of 57.3, second in the league, and a free throw rate of 0.32, first. The Clippers allowed opponents an effective field goal percentage of 54.5, a middling mark.

The Clippers can pose the same problem. They were third in true shooting at 60.2 and third in free throw rate at 0.295. The Lakers ranked 22nd in opponent effective field goal percentage at 55.5.

Luka Doncic, who runs the Lakers' offense, averaged 33.5 points and 8.3 assists in 64 games last season. Matisse Thybulle averaged 2.0 steals in 30 games. For the Clippers, Darius Garland averaged 6.7 assists in 45 games and Kris Dunn 1.6 steals in 82.

The Clippers are thin. Brandon Ingram, who led them with 21.5 points a game last season, is out, as are Bradley Beal and Max Strus, all three expected back Sunday, November 8. Two other Clippers are also out.

For the Lakers, Jake LaRavia is questionable, and Adou Thiero and Cameron Carr are out until Sunday, October 25.

Both teams won their previous game this season: the Clippers beat Sacramento 121-96 at home and the Lakers beat Golden State 127-105. The Lakers ended last season with a 110-115 playoff loss to Oklahoma City.

The game is in Los Angeles. Sportsbooks' prices give the Lakers a 76% chance to win; Keel's projection, built from the players available, gives them 73% and a margin of 7.7 points.