Minus Luka Doncic, Lakers Bounce Back Against Clippers Behind New Additions Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton

The Los Angeles Lakers' first loss of the season (a 136-129 defeat at home Wednesday night against Portland) meant the team had to bounce back. Unfortunately, they found themselves playing shorthanded without their unquestioned leader and another starter just 24 hours later against the crosstown rival Los Angeles Clippers.

Completing a back-to-back in the midst of five games in seven days, the Lakers were without superstar Luka Doncic due to back tightness. Meanwhile, fellow starter Ziaire Williams was sidelined due to left foot soreness. Still, behind the end-to-end play of new additions Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton , the Lakers (4-1) collectively filled the 50-point void of Doncic's absence and were able to get back on track following a 103-87 win.

"It's just a testament to all the guys," Grimes said after the game . "I mean, everybody coming in with the right mindset, coming in not worrying about trying to fill the void that Luka [left] and trying to make up 35, 40 points. Everybody came in and did it collectively, and I feel like it's just a testament to the team and just how we want to play for each other and get the win."

Sliding into the starting lineup in place of Doncic, Grimes led the way to the win by scoring 23 points on 7-of-15 shooting. He also recorded three rebounds, five assists, and four steals, giving the Lakers a spark at both ends of the floor. All told, the Lakers ended the night with six scorers in double figures, including Sexton's 21 points on 6-of-11 shooting and 4-for-7 from three-point range in 21 minutes off the bench. And according to Grimes, it was Sexton's energy in a reserve role that led to his own success.

"It's contagious. Everybody wants to play that hard when you see somebody else giving maximum effort like that." Grimes said of Sexton.

"I think just bringing that juice," Sexton added . "I come into the game and try to impact on the defensive end. I know what I can do offensively, but I just want to come in and be a pest and be someone who changes the game on the defensive side."

Grimes joined the Lakers on a four-year deal reportedly worth $60 million this offseason after stints with New York, Detroit, Dallas and Philadelphia during his first five seasons in the NBA. For his career, Grimes has averaged 11.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 323 games. He has connected on 44.6 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from three-point range, making him a valuable contributor to the Lakers' roster. He's also shown the ability to slide into the starting lineup when needed, making 147 starts in his career. That was certainly needed Wednesday night with Doncic out of the lineup.

Likewise, Sexton joined the Lakers on a reported two-year deal worth $19.2 million after spending time with Cleveland, Utah, Chicago and Charlotte. For his career, Sexton holds averages of 18.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists, connecting on 47.2 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from three-point range in 479 games. However, it was the defensive intensity Grimes and Sexton provided Wednesday night that Lakers Head Coach JJ Redick credits for the win.

The Lakers' defense held the Clippers to 35.1 percent shooting from the field and 32.3 percent from behind the three-point arc, forcing 24 turnovers and collecting 15 steals as a team. It was a glimpse of how potent the Lakers' defense has a chance of becoming this season, according to Redick. And if the Lakers' defense can match their explosive offense, the team could find itself in championship contention.

"Q [Grimes] got a couple of steals (in the first half), and Collin was into the basketball," Redick detailed . "[Sexton] literally switched onto the basketball three straight times, and then Q gets a steal and goes down and lays it in. That stretch, that play was very emblematic of how our defense was tonight."

Redick added: "We've seen some of the stuff defensively for our group where we're like, 'All right, we can be good.' We have a lot of things we got to get better at, but we have kind of the makeup to be a decent defensive team, if not a really good defensive team."

The Lakers will try to build on the momentum of Wednesday's win when they return to action Friday night against Golden State. The Lakers will also begin group play of the Emirates NBA Cup, which has both the Lakers and Warriors featured in West Group C. Things don't get any easier after that when the Lakers welcome the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.

Featured Image: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images