Lakers vs. Clippers: live updates Clippers 52 - Lakers 47 (halftime) The Lakers simply can't afford to turn the ball over against the Clippers. Kobe Bryant gets his first break and the lineup of Darius Morris, Devin Ebanks, Antawn Jamison, Jordan Hill and Dwight Howard is an odd group that quickly gets run off the floor with six-straight points for the Clippers. Mike Brown pulls out Hill and goes with a two-point guard lineup with Blake and Morris. Morris hits a three from the corner but the Lakers are still down 10. After a stop, Blake nails a three and it's quickly back to a seven-point deficit. Howard commits his third foul almost five minutes into the third, which sends him back to the bench for the rest of the half. Bryant and Gasol return, as the Lakers look to salvage what's left of the half. World Peace nails a three from the corner, and the Lakers have gotten right back to where they were at the start of the period. The Clippers respond quickly to double up their lead. Still, the Lakers scrap all the way back to within two until Butler nails a three at the halftime buzzer. Bryant and Butler are tied with 14 apiece. Foul trouble limits Howard to just 10 minutes on the floor. Clippers 28 - Lakers 23 (end of first quarter) As expected, the Lakers have a different Steve in the starting lineup with Blake at the point instead of Nash, who is out with a lower-leg contusion. Coach Mike Brown said he might give second-year player Darius Morris a look off the bench, although Chris Duhon remains a possibility. The Lakers start Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard and Blake. The Clippers go with Chris Paul, Willie Green, Caron Butler, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. The Clippers take a four-point lead early, but Jordan collects his second personal foul just over five minutes into the game, and is replaced by Ryan Hollins. The Lakers can't capitalize as Howard is tabbed with his second foul on the ensuing possession, which brings in Jordan Hill. A Butler jumper puts the Lakers down nine. Brown goes with Devin Ebanks instead of Antawn Jamison behind World Peace, in his ever-evolving rotation. The Lakers look frustrated by the Clippers, but Bryant is keeping them in the game. Morris does get on the floor ahead of Duhon, although emerging guard Eric Bledsoe is not an easy cover. Both teams shot similar percentages in the quarter, the Lakers at 43.8% and the Clippers 43.5%. Bryant led the way with 14 points. Butler was high-man for the Clippers with nine. The Lakers host the Clippers at Staples Center on Friday night, hoping to avoid an 0-3 start to the season. As the Times' Melissa Rohlin reported earlier, Steve Nash will miss tonight's game with a lower-leg contusion, and Steve Blake will start in his place. The Clippers are a deep and athletic team, and the Lakers are still trying to find their footing after an injury-plagued preseason. Without Nash, the Lakers are going to have their hands full tonight at Staples Center. Kobe Bryant: 'Everybody shut up. Lakers-Clippers matchup is loaded with meaning Now is not the time to get rid of Lakers Coach Mike Brown