Kawhi Leonard scored a season-high 32 points, leading the Los Angeles Clippers (7-21) to a 103-88 victory over the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers (19-8) on Saturday at Intuit Dome. Leonard added 12 rebounds and three steals, while James Harden contributed 21 points and 10 assists.
John Collins posted a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds, and the Clippers hit 16 of 43 from 3-point range, with Leonard, Harden, and Brook Lopez combining for 11 triples. Los Angeles led the entire game, snapping a five-game losing streak.
LeBron James led the Lakers with a season-high 36 points, but Luka Doncic exited after halftime with a lower leg contusion, finishing with 12 points and five rebounds. The Lakers missed 32 three-pointers as Marcus Smart went 0-for-9 from beyond the arc.
The Clippers built an early lead with a 28-15 first quarter, extending their advantage with consistent shooting in the second and third quarters. A late Lakers spurt cut the deficit to seven in the fourth, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Collins and Harden, along with a Leonard dunk, restored a double-digit lead.
Ivica Zubac left the game early with a left ankle injury after scoring five points, but the Clippers’ depth held strong. The win moves Los Angeles off the bottom of the Western Conference standings and marks only their seventh victory of the season.
Rui Hachimura missed his first start for the Lakers due to a sore groin, and the team hopes to have DeAndre Ayton (left elbow) and Austin Reaves (left calf) back soon. LeBron’s 36 points were not enough to overcome Los Angeles’ superior shooting and bench contributions.
The Lakers will travel to Phoenix on Tuesday to finish an eight-game road trip, while the Clippers host Houston, featuring former MVP Kevin Durant, on Tuesday.
