Luka Doncic nailed a 3-pointer right in front of the Clippers’ bench late in the first quarter, then shot a sharp look their way and shook his head as he returned to defend the Lakers, showing the intensity of his personal rivalry with the Clippers amid the broader city rivalry. Doncic once again spearheaded the Lakers to a 135-118 win over the Clippers on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, nearly finishing with a triple-double of 43 points, 13 assists, and nine rebounds. He shot 14-of-28 from the field, 7-of-12 from beyond the arc, and 8-of-11 from the free-throw line.
Doncic has now led the Lakers to five straight wins and recorded 40-plus point double-doubles in 39 games, surpassing Anthony Davis for the fourth-most among active players and ranking sixth overall in Lakers history behind Magic Johnson. He also tied legends Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal by recording five 40-point double-doubles before turning 27, since the NBA-ABA merger.
“I thought we played a great game,” Doncic said. “They took a lot of shots, especially in the first half.” Tensions flared late in the fourth quarter when Kris Dunn pushed Doncic, leading to a confrontation and Dunn being ejected after receiving two technical fouls. Jackson Hayes stood up for Doncic, earning a technical foul himself, and Doncic expressed gratitude for his teammate’s support, highlighting the team’s strong camaraderie.
Doncic scored 24 points in the first quarter alone, hitting his first five 3-pointers and finishing with 32 points by halftime, along with six assists. Throughout his career against the Clippers, Doncic has been dominant, averaging 12.5 free throw attempts per game, and entering this game was averaging a career-high 32.2 points against Western Conference teams. When asked about his strong performances against the Clippers, Doncic simply remarked, “I don’t know… maybe they like it that way.”
With Deandre Ayton out due to a knee injury, Austin Reeves and LeBron James stepped up, scoring 31 and 25 points respectively, helping the Lakers advance undefeated in Group B of the NBA Cup. The Lakers will finish group play against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, while the Clippers face the Memphis Grizzlies.
Lakers coach J.J. Redick reported that Ayton’s MRI showed only swelling and bruising, and his return is expected soon. The Lakers also signed forward Drew Timmy to a two-way contract, waiving Christian Koloco. Timmy, a 6-foot-10 Gonzaga alum, has been impressive in the G League with strong scoring, rebounding, and assists.
Fan Take: Luka Doncic’s commanding performance against a key rival like the Clippers underscores his rising status as a generational talent and electrifying star in the NBA. His continued dominance and leadership could reshape the Lakers’ future and intensify one of the league’s most exciting rivalries, thrilling basketball fans everywhere.
