Lakers win over Clippers is mixed bag for…
LOS ANGELES — The Lakers’ first sport of the season with a totally healthy roster on Friday night time against the Clippers offered all of the glimpses of optimism a stakeholder might hope for.
It also highlighted some of their greatest issues.
The good for the Lakers in their 125-122 win over the Clippers: Luka Dončić’s sizzling start, and the offense wanting dominant for important stretches.
LeBron James, who scored 13 factors and grabbed 11 rebounds, rises up for a layup during the Lakers’ 125-122 home win over the rival Clippers on Feb. 20, 2026. Getty Images
Also, the beginning lineup of Dončić, Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart, LeBron James and Deandre Ayton regarded like a natural match.
But the issues remained the same, with the Lakers protection struggling to get stops for important stretches.
But they obtained the most important one of the night time at Crypto.com Arena when Nic Batum missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer, with the Lakers’ sustaining a 3-point lead, their successful margin.
Dončić led with the Lakers with 38 factors, 11 assists and six rebounds. Reaves added an environment friendly 29 factors and six rebounds in his first sport back in the beginning lineup since December, while LeBron James had a 13-point, 11-assist double-double.
What it means
The Lakers improved to 34-21, including 16-10 at home.
The Clippers (27-29) missed out on a probability to improve to .500 for the first time since early November.
Turning level: Kawhi Leonard’s exit
Leonard was ruled out because of left ankle soreness late in the fourth quarter.
The Lakers took a 112-109 lead after Dončić made a relocation 3, main to Clippers coach Ty Lue calling a timeout with 5:11 left.
Kawhi Leonard, making a transfer on Luke Kennard, scored 31 factors before exiting with left ankle soreness in the Clippers’ loss to the Lakers. Getty Images
But when the sport resumed, Lue didn’t have his best participant back on the ground, evaporating a important chunk of the Clippers’ offensive juice.
The Lakers led for the remainder of the way in which.
Leonard led the Clippers with 31 factors, 5 assists and 4 rebounds.
Benn Mathurin, coming off scoring a career-high-tying 38 factors in Thursday’s home win over the Nuggets, scored 26 off the bench but fouled out with 1:49 remaining.
MVP: Luka Dončić
An unconventional decide of Marcus Smart, who made a pair of clutch 3s and a midrange jumper, was nearly made.
But the way in which Dončić began the sport — 17 factors and 4 assists in the first quarter — and closed with 12 factors in the fourth sealed his case.
Luka Dončić, who scored 38 factors, goes up for a layup during the Lakers’ win over the Clippers. Getty Images
Dončić’s 22 factors in the first half marked his league-leading twenty eighth half this season with 20 or more factors.
Stat of the sport: 54.8%
That was the Lakers’ 3-point share against the Clippers, their second-highest share from deep in a sport this season.
Dončić led the Lakers with 8-of-14 capturing on 3s, with Reaves capturing 4 of 5 from past the arc.
Their season-high 3-point share stays 55.9%, when they made 19 of 34 3s in the Jan. 13 win over the Hawks.
Up next
The Lakers will host the Celtics on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. in the nationally-broadcast matchup on NBC/Peacock.
The staff will unveil the Pat Riley statue forward of the sport against the Lakers’ longtime rivals.
The Clippers also will stay in Southern California, internet hosting the Magic on Sunday night at Intuit Dome.
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