Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler lead Lakers past Clippers 125-117 for 2nd win to start season

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Austin Reaves had 28 points and nine assists, Walker Kessler added 22 points and six blocked shots, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Los Angeles Clippers 125-117 on Friday night for their second win to start the season.

Luka Doncic scored 23 points and committed a career-high 11 turnovers on a rough night for last season's NBA scoring leader. The Lakers' healthy second-half lead dwindled to six points down the stretch, but Reaves and Kessler made big players to seal the Lakers' ninth win in the last 13 meetings with their crosstown rivals.

Darius Garland had 26 points and six assists on another encouraging night for the Clippers, who routed Sacramento in the opener of their rebuilding season.

Brook Lopez, their 38-year-old backup center, scored 15 of his 22 points in the first half for the Clips, who couldn't overcome 26 turnovers.

Rui Hachimura had 16 points and six rebounds in his first trip back up the I-110 freeway to face the Lakers, his team for the previous 3 1/2 seasons.

Kessler has begun his first season with the Lakers by scoring at least 20 points in back-to-back games for the first time in his five NBA seasons.

The 7-foot-2 center missed his first shot in a Lakers uniform on the opening possession against the Clippers, short-arming a layup attempt after he went 12 for 12 in his stellar debut against Golden State.

Kessler then proceeded to make his next eight shots. He finished with eight rebounds.

The Lakers had six players with at least 13 points, including 14 from newcomer Ziaire Williams.

Clippers: At Oklahoma City on Sunday.

Lakers: At Utah on Sunday.

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, right, shoots as LA Clippers forward Isaiah Jackson defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Oct 23, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

LA Clippers center Brook Lopez, left, and Los Angeles Lakers forward Kevon Looney grapple for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

LA Clippers guard Kris Dunn, right passes while under pressure from Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

LA Clippers center Brook Lopez, left, tries to shoot as Los Angeles Lakers center Walker Kessler defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s military has regained full use of Starlink satellite links for its drones and other fast-moving equipment, the defense minister said Saturday, ending speed restrictions that Ukrainian officials said had disrupted front-line operations for more than a week.

The restoration comes as U.S. envoys launched a new push to end the war. Russia agreed Wednesday to resume three-way negotiations with Washington and Kyiv next month. On Friday, Kyiv and Moscow also agreed to a localized ceasefire brokered by first lady Melania Trump around Oleshky, a war-ravaged, Russian-occupied town in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region.

The Defense Ministry’s monitoring systems in Ukraine reported stable connections on objects traveling faster than 400 kph (250 mph), Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara told reporters.

The limitations placed on Starshield — SpaceX’s military-grade version of the Starlink satellite internet service and the backbone of Ukraine’s drone operations and communication — last week alarmed the country’s military and government officials, with commanders reporting lost drones and disrupted missions.

The episode added to tensions between Kyiv and Washington, a relationship already strained by President Donald Trump’s reported deal with Moscow on Russian diesel imports, which Ukraine viewed as a betrayal.

Khmara credited “direct dialogue” and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s diplomacy with Washington, adding that the outcome mattered most “for our front, for the military, the work of drones, logistics and communications.”

Zelenskyy on Friday said Ukraine was still experiencing Starlink and Starshield speed limits.

Questions have persisted since last week about who ordered the interruptions to the Elon Musk-made satellite internet system that Ukraine has relied on for years to counter Moscow’s attacks.

Trump has maintained that he didn’t make the call, while also saying Musk should not be blamed. Vice President JD Vance has hinted at White House coordination with Musk, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have denied any administration involvement.

Meanwhile, Moscow-installed authorities in cities across Russia-occupied Crimea reported power blackouts Saturday following overnight Ukrainian attacks.

Ukraine’s General Staff said Saturday that its forces hit a chemical plant in the Russian city of Tolyatti, which produces materials used in rocket fuel. Tolyatti Mayor Ilya Sukhikh said the overnight attack damaged industrial facilities in the city.

Ukrainian forces also hit an electronics plant in the city of Oryol, Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed Saturday. Local officials in Oryol said Saturday that three people were killed in Friday’s attack. The General Staff said the plant makes components for the cruise and ballistic missiles Russia fires at Ukrainian cities.

Morton reported from London.

Follow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy answers media questions before his meeting with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)