On December 20th, when the Lakers and Clippers faced off at the Intuit Dome, both teams were facing difficulties. However, following that game, their trajectories shifted in opposite directions. Prior to that matchup, the Lakers held a 19-7 record while the Clippers struggled at 6-21. Since the Clippers’ victory that night, they have surged to a 14-3 record, whereas the Lakers have slipped to 7-10.
On Thursday, the Lakers continued their downward trend, losing 112-104 to the Clippers. They fell behind by 26 points, a deficit they couldn’t overcome, marking their sixth loss in nine games. Luka Doncic nearly posted a triple-double with 32 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Lakers’ brief two-game winning streak alive. LeBron James contributed 23 points, six assists, and five rebounds.
The Clippers, now 20-24, have won seven of their last eight games, with seven players scoring in double digits. Kawhi Leonard tallied 24 points, extending his personal record to 23 straight games scoring 20 or more points. James Harden added 18 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds, and Ivica Zubac posted 18 points and 19 rebounds.
The Lakers fell behind by 26 in the third quarter but fought back to narrow the gap to 86-72 by the end of the fourth quarter and later to 93-91, powered by Doncic’s clutch three-point shooting and solid defense. Despite their best efforts to close in, including a 105-102 score on a three-point play by James, the Clippers held on for the win.
Deandre Ayton returned after missing part of the previous game with a left eye injury, wearing goggles during his 20 minutes on the court, contributing four points and five rebounds. Despite his return, the Lakers suffered their second consecutive defeat to the Clippers.
Kawhi Leonard, who was questionable due to a left knee contusion but played, made an impact early with a three-pointer, helping the Clippers build a significant lead. Leonard, Harden, and Zubac have been pivotal in the Clippers’ impressive stretch, winning 14 of their last 17 games.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue praised Leonard’s leadership and positive influence on the team since their December victory over the Lakers, noting it allowed the team to start playing better basketball. Meanwhile, Lakers’ Austin Reeves, sidelined for 14 games with a calf injury, has been showing promise in practice and is expected to return soon.
This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
Fan Take: This ongoing Lakers-Clippers rivalry underscores the unpredictability and excitement of the NBA season, highlighting how quickly fortunes can change. For basketball fans, the Clippers’ resurgence and the Lakers’ struggles add a fresh narrative that could redefine the balance of power in the Western Conference.
