Two good friends were pinned against each other for the first time in a long time on Friday, when the Los Angeles Lakers hosted the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena. 

In the end, Austin Reaves led his Lakers to a 125-117 victory over Rui Hachimura's Clippers, posting 28 points (game high) and nine assists to help the purple and gold improve to 2-0.  

On the other end, Hachimura fought back with 16 points, six rebounds, and two steals but was inefficient from the field (5-for-14), despite drilling three of six three-point attempts. 

Reaves was full of kind words about his former teammate afterward. 

Reaves joked earlier this week that he didn't know whether Hachimura spoke English for the first two weeks after the Lakers traded for the Gonzaga product, bringing him in from the Washington Wizards in 2023. The rest, as they say, is history. 

"He's one of my favorite teammates I've ever had," Reaves said postgame on Friday. "We sat [next to] each other on the plane his first year, and I would say 'Hey' to him, and he would just kind of nod. Then after that, I couldn't get him to shut up. 

"[He was] always in a good mood, happy to be here, and put in the work. It's good to see him happy and successful, enjoying his life." 

Luckily for their bond, Hachimura didn't move far, signing a two-year, $28 million deal with the Lakers' crosstown neighbors in free agency. 

In their first meeting on opposite sides of the floor, Reaves not only got the better of Hachimura individually, but his Lakers also remained undefeated this season with their second straight home win. 

The Lakers were far from perfect, with Reaves (6) and Luka Doncic (11) committing 17 of the team's 21 turnovers. Still, it's a good early sign they can win ugly. 

Doncic balanced out the bad with the ever-so-dominant, dropping 23 points, six rebounds, and seven assists. 

All five Lakers starters scored in double figures (Matisse Thybulle 13, Ziaire Williams 14), while Quentin Grimes added 13 points in 31 minutes off the bench. 

Center Walker Kessler continued his strong start to his first campaign in Laker Land, torching the Clippers on the interior with 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and a whopping nine stocks (six blocks, three steals). 

Another former Laker, Brook Lopez, poured in 22 points off the bench for the Clippers. 

Darius Garland led the Clips in scoring for the second straight game with 26 points and added six assists. He marred his performance with nine turnovers. 

The Lakers found a decisive edge by shooting 58 percent from the field. They outscored the Clippers in the paint 58 to 48. The hosts led by as much as 15 and held a lead for 63 percent of the game. 

The Clippers won the fourth quarter 27-22 in a late comeback attempt, but to no avail.