If it wasn't obvious enough already, the Los Angeles Lakers have dearly missed rookie point guard Lonzo Ball. His absence made things even tougher during the Lakers' mistake-filled 121-106 loss to the L.A. Clippers on Friday night at Staples Center, especially for rising star forward Brandon Ingram.

According to a tweet after last night's game from ClutchPoints' own Dan Duangdao, Ingram had to take on more of a point guard role in the first half and noticed a drop in his production and aggressiveness.

“[I have to] give guys the ball. I think tonight I was less aggressive in the first half in getting guys the ball. And then I tried to go sometimes one-on-one and I don't think that was effective at all,” Ingram said. “So I tried to be better in the second half, but like I said, I can't have a first half like that where I don't have my teammates' backs, not going to the basket, and not trying to make plays for myself and them.”

The Lakers got off to an awful start to the game, as the Clippers surged to a quick 9-0 lead in the first quarter and eventually got the margin up to 19-3. With Ball's shoulder ailment and the absence of guard Tyler Ennis with the flu, the team was without a true point guard.

However, guard Jordan Clarkson came off the bench and put together an impressive stat line. Clarkson finished with 20 points on 9-of-16 shots, a team-high eight assist, and five rebounds in 35 minutes of action.

The Lakers are going to have Ball out of their lineup for at least the next two games, as Lakers sideline reporter Mike Trudell of Spectrum SportsNet said the rookie guard will not join them on their two-game road trip.