Lakers Vs Clippers — lakers vs clippers win is a mixed bag
The Lakers beat the Clippers 125-122 in Los Angeles in their first game of the season with a fully healthy roster, a result that delivered clear upside offensively while underscoring lingering defensive concerns. The matchup mattered because it reunited the Lakers’ intended starting five and came with the added storyline that LeBron James played despite knee soreness and a pregame migraine, a status detail shared by the Lakers’ head coach.
Lakers Vs Clippers key moments
Luka Dončić opened hot and closed strong, finishing with 38 points, 11 assists and six rebounds. Austin Reaves returned to the starting lineup and was efficient, adding 29 points and six rebounds. The game’s decisive sequence came in the final minute when Nic Batum missed a potential game-tying 3, and the Lakers held a three-point margin at the buzzer.
Inside lakers vs clippers finish
The Clippers had a late timeout after a Dončić relocation 3 tied to a 112-109 lead change, but they lost a key boost when Kawhi Leonard was ruled out late in the fourth quarter with left ankle soreness. That absence diminished the Clippers’ late offensive options. Benn Mathurin scored 26 off the bench but fouled out with 1: 49 remaining, while Leonard had paced the visitors with 31 points earlier in the game.
Standouts and lingering concerns
Offense was the clear strength: the Lakers shot efficiently as a unit and made a very high percentage of their 3s, while Dončić produced his league-leading 28th half this season with 20 or more points after a 22-point first half. Still, the Lakers struggled to get defensive stops for significant stretches, an issue flagged repeatedly in postgame commentary and visible in the Clippers’ high field-goal rate late in the game.
Health update and what to watch next
Head coach JJ Redick revealed that LeBron James played through left knee soreness that emerged during a scrimmage and also dealt with a pregame migraine; James was a game-time decision but ultimately took the floor. The Lakers now sit at 34-21, including 16-10 at home, while the Clippers fell to 27-29. The Lakers’ next scheduled game is at home against Boston at 6: 30 PM ET; James’ knee and overall availability will be a factor to monitor ahead of that matchup.
Key takeaways:
- Final score: Lakers 125, Clippers 122; Luka Dončić led the Lakers with 38 points and 11 assists.
- LeBron played through knee soreness and a pregame migraine but still recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 assists.
- The Lakers’ offense was highly efficient (including very strong 3-point shooting), but defensive lapses persisted; upcoming schedule includes a home game versus Boston at 6: 30 PM ET.
