LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic had 38 factors and 11 assists, Austin Reaves added 29 factors and the Los Angeles Lakers held off the Los Angeles Clippers down the stretch for a 125-122 victory Friday night time.
LeBron James had 13 factors and 11 assists for the Lakers of their return from the All-Star break. They blew a 15-point lead within the second half, however Doncic scored 12 factors within the fourth quarter because the Lakers break up the four-game season collection with their crosstown rivals.
Kawhi Leonard scored 31 factors earlier than lacking the ultimate 5:10 with an obvious ankle damage for the Clippers (27-29), who fell simply wanting getting again to .500 in unimaginable vogue after their 6-21 begin to the season.
Bennedict Mathurin had 26 factors and 7 rebounds in his second straight excellent recreation for his new workforce earlier than fouling out with 1:49 to play. The athletic guard acquired from Indiana for middle Ivica Zubac dropped a career-high-tying 38 towards Denver on Thursday.
Derrick Jones Jr. scored on consecutive possessions to trim the Lakers’ result in 123-120 with 46 seconds left. Nicolas Batum then stole James’ cross within the closing seconds, however the Frenchman missed a tying three-point try with 4 seconds left.
Doncic, James and Reaves have been in a position to play collectively for under the eleventh time within the Lakers’ 55 video games this season, because of a uncommon second of full well being for the Lakers popping out of the break. They responded with a prolific offensive efficiency, even whereas James managed simply two factors within the second half.
In Doncic’s return from a four-game absence adopted by a five-minute All-Star Recreation look as a consequence of a mildly strained hamstring, the Slovenian celebrity scored 17 factors with 4 3-pointers in a dynamic first quarter for the Lakers, who made 16 of 17 photographs in a single stretch.
Leonard, who had only one bucket within the first, answered with a 19-point second.
The Clippers’ John Collins was helped off the court docket with 18 seconds left within the first half after he bloodied his face on a tough touchdown whereas attempting to catch a protracted cross on the rim.
Clippers: Host Orlando on Sunday.
Lakers: Host Boston on Sunday.
