Luka Doncic delivered 43 points, 13 assists, and nine rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Clippers 135-118 at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday, November 25. Doncic matched his season high with 32 points in the first half, while Austin Reaves added 31 points and nine rebounds.
Speaking after the game, Doncic praised his teammates’ effort, particularly in the fourth quarter. “I think we played a great game. Our fourth-quarter defense was better than all three quarters. To close it out means a lot,” he said.
Doncic also addressed the late-game scuffle involving Clippers guard Kris Dunn and Lakers center Jaxson Hayes. “I got a cheap shot in my back, so I’m not going to just stand. The ref was right there. But that’s what the game is about. Sometimes it gets physical,” he explained. He later confirmed he volunteered to cover Hayes’ technical fine.
The Slovenian superstar emphasized the chemistry with LeBron James and Reaves. “I honestly think we did great. LeBron was aggressive in the second half, AR was aggressive, and I think we just feed off each other’s momentum,” Doncic said.
Doncic also reflected on the Lakers clinching their NBA Cup group. “I never got past the group stage before, so this is something new for me,” he said, noting that the tournament inspires extra motivation late in the season. He added that adjusting to the new court’s slick surface posed a challenge for both teams.
The Lakers dominated early, with Doncic scoring 20 points in the first eight minutes, including five three-pointers, after struggling from deep in his previous two games. Los Angeles shot 57% overall and 45% from beyond the arc, while controlling the boards 38-29 and committing only 11 turnovers.
For the Clippers, James Harden led with 29 points and nine assists, and Kawhi Leonard added 19 points in his second game back from a 10-game injury absence. Despite 52% team shooting, the Clippers could not match the Lakers’ scoring depth.
With the win, Los Angeles moves to 13-4 and secures its NBA Cup group, guaranteeing a spot in the quarterfinals. The Lakers host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, while the Clippers return home to face Memphis.
