Clippers Vs Lakers: Doncic’s 38 and Reaves’ 29 Propel Lakers to 125-122 Win, Season Series Split

The LA rivalry mattered first to the players and playoff math: in the clippers vs lakers matchup Friday night, Luka Doncic’s 38 points and 11 assists and Austin Reaves’ 29 vaulted the Lakers to a 125-122 victory that split the four-game season series. The result reshapes short-term rotation choices and leaves both teams with late-game questions to answer coming out of the All-Star break.

Who was affected and how the win reshapes the Lakers’ short-term picture

This game delivered an immediate boost to the Lakers’ available lineup: LeBron James (13 points, 11 assists) returned in the team’s first outing since the All-Star break and, together with Doncic and Reaves, played only the 11th time this season as a trio. That rare stretch of health translated to a prolific offensive outing, even though James managed just two second-half points. Here’s the part that matters: the Lakers can now point to a functioning core for at least the next few games, but the late collapse from a 15-point second-half lead raises rotation and defensive concerns that must be addressed quickly.

Clippers Vs Lakers — Embedded game details and critical late plays

The Lakers held off the Clippers 125-122 on Friday night. Doncic finished with 38 points and 11 assists; he scored 12 in the fourth quarter and had 17 with four 3-pointers in a dynamic first quarter after returning from a four-game absence and a five-minute All-Star appearance tied to a mildly strained hamstring. Austin Reaves added 29 points, including key threes down the stretch.

Kawhi Leonard scored 31 for the Clippers before missing the final 5: 10 with an apparent ankle injury. Derrick Jones Jr. scored on consecutive possessions to trim the Lakers' lead to 123-120 with 46 seconds left. Nicolas Batum then stole James’ pass in the final seconds but missed a tying 3 with 4 seconds remaining. The Lakers split the four-game season series with their crosstown rivals.

Turning points, foul trouble and injuries that swung momentum

The Clippers nearly erased deficits multiple times: they clipped large Lakers leads through a third-quarter surge that included a 17-1 run which briefly put them ahead. Bennedict Mathurin had 26 points and seven rebounds in his second straight strong game for his new team but fouled out with 1: 49 to play; the context notes he was acquired from Indiana for center Ivica Zubac and had dropped a career-high-tying 38 against Denver on Thursday. John Collins was helped off the court with 18 seconds left in the first half after blooding his face on a hard landing while trying to catch a long pass at the rim. Leonard’s late absence for an apparent ankle issue loomed large for the Clippers (27-29), who fell just short of returning to. 500 after a 6-21 start to the season.

Sequence, quarter snapshots and standout stats

• Early flow: Brook Lopez opened with a personal 5-0 run for the Clippers; Austin Reaves scored the first five for the Lakers.
• First quarter: Lakers surged — at one point they made 16 of 17 shots and Doncic hit four 3s in a stretch; the quarter ended with the Lakers up by 12.
• Halftime: the Lakers led by seven after the Clippers won the second-chance points battle 14-2 in the first half.
• Third quarter: Lakers built a 15-point lead on a 10-2 run, but a 17-1 Clippers run put them ahead before the Lakers reclaimed control entering the fourth up by four.
• Fourth minute-by-minute: Jarred Vanderbilt opened the fourth with a dunk for the Lakers; multiple early foul calls slowed play; the Clippers tied it at 9: 50, but Reaves’ 3-pointers and Doncic’s late scoring sealed the result.

• Luka Doncic — 38 points, 11 assists, 12 fourth-quarter points.
• Austin Reaves — 29 points and several late threes.
• LeBron James — 13 points, 11 assists, only two points in the second half.
• Kawhi Leonard — 31 points before leaving with an apparent ankle issue; he had just one bucket in the first and a 19-point second.

What’s easy to miss is the compressed minutes bar the Lakers drew from rare health; Doncic, James and Reaves being available together for only the 11th time in 55 games suggests this outcome may be harder to replicate if even one of them is limited.

• The Lakers’ offense clicked at times (one stretch 16-for-17), but a blown 15-point lead exposed late-game defense and discipline issues.
• The Clippers showed resilience with big scoring runs and second-chance aggression, but foul trouble and Leonard’s late exit curtailed their comeback.
• Bennedict/Benedict Mathurin’s back-to-back strong performances and foul-out with 1: 49 left are pivotal for his new team’s momentum.
• Final seconds swung on defensive miscues and a missed tying three with 4 seconds remaining.

The real question now is how both teams adjust rotations and manage health after this stretch of games and the All-Star break. If you’re wondering why this keeps coming up, consider that the Clippers were attempting to get back to. 500 after a 6-21 start, and this loss leaves unresolved questions about consistency and depth.

Micro timeline (key moments):

• First quarter — Doncic’s hot start (four 3s) and Lakers’ 16-of-17 stretch.
• Halftime — Lakers lead by seven; Clippers dominate second-chance points 14-2.
• Final minute — Derrick Jones Jr. cuts lead to 123-120; Batum’s steal leads to a missed tying 3 with 4 seconds left.

Recent updates indicate injuries and lineup availability may evolve; details may change as teams process medical evaluations.