By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic poured in 12 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a narrow 125-122 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers at crypto.com Arena on Friday.
Improving to 34-21 in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season, the Lakers squandered a comfortable 15-point lead. They trailed late in the game but managed to survive a missed three-point attempt by France’s Nicolas Batum with only four seconds remaining.
“It wasn’t bad. I’m, obviously, tired after the game, but I felt good,” said 26-year-old Doncic in a postgame press conference, updating his status after missing the previous four games before the All-Star break.
Logging 38 minutes, the Slovenian superstar made 11-of-25 from the field, including an impressive 8-of-14 from beyond the arc. He also tallied 11 assists, six rebounds, three steals, and one block. However, German Maxi Kleber did not see the floor for head coach JJ Redick.
The Clippers fell to 27-29 and suffered a significant blow when Kawhi Leonard left the game due to left ankle soreness midway through the fourth quarter. Before exiting, the 34-year-old forward had racked up 31 points.
Meanwhile, 37-year-old Batum finished with three rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 15 minutes, while Swiss big man Yanic Konan Niederhauser contributed six points and three rebounds in 13 minutes. Serbian guard Bogdan Bogdanovic remained on the bench for the duration of the contest.
Bouncing back on Sunday, the Lakers host the Boston Celtics in crypto.com Arena, and the Clippers take on the Orlando Magic in Intuit Dome.