Luka Doncic delivered another strong performance as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Clippers 108-102 on Sunday night. The All-Star guard scored 29 points and dished out nine assists, helping the Lakers secure their sixth consecutive victory.
LeBron James added 17 points and nine assists, while rookie Dalton Knecht contributed 19 points off the bench. Despite missing Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura due to injuries, the Lakers improved to 38-21, moving up to second place in the Western Conference.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with a season-high 33 points and 10 rebounds. The Clippers, now 33-28, struggled early and trailed by as many as 21 points before mounting a late rally. They have now lost five of their last six games.
Norman Powell returned after missing five games but exited in the first quarter due to right hamstring soreness. He scored four points in eight minutes before leaving.
The Lakers controlled most of the game and built an 86-66 lead when Doncic checked out late in the third quarter. The Clippers responded with a 22-7 run, cutting the deficit to single digits entering the final stretch.
Leonard’s three-pointer brought the Clippers within five at 107-102 with 1:40 left. However, they missed their final six shots, failing to complete the comeback.
The Lakers shot 49.4% from the field and hit 18 three-pointers on 42.9% shooting. Doncic made five of his 12 attempts from beyond the arc, while Knecht went 5-of-8.
Defensively, the Lakers held the Clippers to 43.2% shooting and forced 12 turnovers. The Clippers struggled in the second quarter, failing to score for the final 7:35 of the period while missing 10 straight shots.
James Harden finished with 13 points and eight assists, but he shot just 4-of-14 from the field. Kris Dunn provided 15 points, while Ivica Zubac had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Jaxson Hayes, starting at center for the Lakers, contributed six points and seven rebounds. Dorian Finney-Smith added 11 points, including two key three-pointers in the first half.
James is now just one point shy of becoming the first player in NBA history to reach 50,000 combined regular-season and playoff points. He will have a chance to achieve the milestone in the Lakers’ next game.
The Lakers have now won 16 of their last 19 games and continue to thrive despite injuries. They will face the Denver Nuggets next as they look to extend their winning streak.
