Clippers Vs Lakers: Luka Doncic's 38 Carries Lakers to 125-122 Win
In a tight clippers vs lakers matchup, Luka Doncic scored 38 points and added 11 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers held on for a 125-122 victory, splitting the four-game season series. The result moved the Lakers to 34-21 while the Clippers fell to 27-29, leaving Los Angeles fans with a dramatic finish and lingering questions about late-game execution and injuries.
Late surge and decisive plays
The game tightened in the final minutes after a back-and-forth fourth quarter. Doncic scored 12 points in the fourth to help the Lakers weather a Clippers rally. Derrick Jones Jr. scored on consecutive possessions to cut the lead to 123-120 with 46 seconds left, and Nicolas Batum later stole a LeBron James pass before missing a tying 3-pointer with four seconds remaining. Those sequences defined the closing stretch and preserved a narrow Los Angeles victory.
Doncic, Reaves and LeBron performances
Doncic finished with 38 points and 11 assists. Austin Reaves added 29 points, and LeBron James had 13 points and 11 assists as the trio helped the Lakers mount a productive offensive night. The three were able to play together for only the 11th time in the Lakers’ 55 games this season, a rare moment of relative health that the team capitalized on coming out of the All-Star break. In the first quarter, Doncic scored 17 points and hit four 3-pointers as the Lakers made 16 of 17 shots in one stretch. James managed just two points in the second half, a drop in scoring that the Lakers absorbed thanks to contributions from Doncic and Reaves.
Clippers Vs Lakers — Rally, injuries and foul trouble
Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points for the Clippers but exited with an apparent ankle injury, missing the final 5: 10. The Clippers staged a furious comeback after trailing by as many as 15 in the second half, briefly taking the momentum late in the game. Bennedict Mathurin had 26 points and seven rebounds in his second straight strong outing for his new team before fouling out with 1: 49 left. John Collins was helped off with 18 seconds remaining in the first half after bloodied his face on a hard landing while attempting to catch a long pass at the rim. Despite the injuries and foul trouble, the Clippers fell just short of getting back to. 500 after an early-season 6-21 stretch.
What the result means now
The win split the season series between the crosstown rivals and left standing implications clear in the scoreboard: the Lakers improved to 34-21 while the Clippers dropped to 27-29. The Clippers’ comeback attempt underscored their resilience following a difficult start to the season, but late-game execution and the availability of key players will be priorities as both clubs move forward. If roster availability and health concerns persist for either side, future matchups between these teams could hinge on those same factors.
Key takeaways:
- Lakers 125, Clippers 122; Lakers moved to 34-21, Clippers to 27-29.
- Luka Doncic: 38 points, 11 assists; Austin Reaves: 29 points; LeBron James: 13 points, 11 assists.
- Kawhi Leonard left with an apparent ankle injury; Bennedict Mathurin fouled out with 1: 49 remaining.
