Clippers Vs Lakers: Luka Doncic’s 38 lifts Lakers to 125-122 win
Luka Doncic scored 38 points and handed out 11 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers held off the Los Angeles Clippers 125-122 on Friday night, a result that split the four-game season series and ended the teams’ recent stretch of alternating wins in the crosstown rivalry in a tight clippers vs lakers meeting.
First-quarter fireworks and a dominant shooting stretch
Doncic returned from a four-game absence and, following a five-minute All-Star Game appearance tied to a mildly strained hamstring, poured in 17 first-quarter points with four 3-pointers while the Lakers made 16 of 17 shots in one stretch. The quarter closed with the Lakers up by 12 after Luka drained multiple triples; Brook Lopez began the game with a personal 5-0 run for the Clippers and Austin Reaves scored the Lakers’ first five points.
Clippers Vs Lakers: second-quarter swing and halftime margin
Kawhi Leonard had only one bucket in the first but answered with a 19-point second period and reached 21 points by halftime; he scored eight early in the period and was at 13 for the half at one point. Benedict Mathurin (listed elsewhere as Bennedict Mathurin) started the second with a jump shot and later had 26 points and seven rebounds in his second straight strong game for his new team before fouling out with 1: 49 remaining. Deandre Ayton converted a dunk off an assist from Doncic, John Collins hit a triple, and the Clippers led the second-chance points battle 14-2—yet the Lakers still went to the break up by seven.
Third-quarter swings: runs, turnovers and a four-point lead into the fourth
The third opened with Kawhi turning the ball over and Reaves responding with a 3; the Lakers then went on a 10-2 run to push a 15-point lead. The Clippers countered with a quick four straight points, and Derrick Jones Jr. scored four of six consecutive points that helped fuel a 17-1 Clippers run that put Los Angeles’ other team ahead by two. Reaves hit three 3-pointers and climbed to 22 points during the game. By the end of the quarter, the Lakers were up by four after the Clippers outscored them by three in the period.
Late drama, injuries and the closing sequence
Late in the fourth, Doncic scored 12 points to close the game after the Lakers had blown a 15-point second-half lead. LeBron James finished with 13 points and 11 assists in the Lakers’ return from the All-Star break but had just two points in the second half. With 46 seconds left, Derrick Jones Jr. scored on consecutive possessions to cut the margin to 123-120; Nicolas Batum then stole James’ pass in the final seconds and missed a tying 3-pointer with 4 seconds remaining. Bennedict Mathurin fouled out with 1: 49 to play.
Kawhi Leonard finished with 31 points but missed the final 5: 10 with an apparent ankle injury; the Clippers fell just short of getting back to. 500 and are listed at 27-29 after a season that included a 6-21 start. The Clippers’ John Collins was helped off the court with 18 seconds left in the first half after bloodied his face on a hard landing while trying to catch a long pass at the rim.
Doncic, James and Reaves were able to play together for only the 11th time in the Lakers’ 55 games this season, a rare stretch of relative health coming out of the break. The Lakers produced a prolific offensive performance overall, and Austin Reaves finished with 29 points.
Sequence and turning points noted in the box
Specific game moments included: Lopez leading the Clippers with nine points early; Luke Kennard hitting a 3 after a Laker timeout; Rui Hachimura knocking down a 3-pointer; the Lakers shooting 80% from the field at a stretch; the Lakers up by three at the 6: 18 mark; up by 13 at the 7: 35 mark of the second; and Jarred Vanderbilt opening the fourth with a dunk. The Clippers tied the game at the 9: 50 mark of the fourth before Reaves’ go-ahead 3.
The athletic guard acquired from Indiana for center Ivica Zubac had dropped a career-high-tying 38 against Denver on Thursday, a recent performance the context notes alongside his contributions in this game.
The Lakers’ next opponent and schedule are unclear in the provided context.
