Game ID: 22400874
LA Clippers @ Los Angeles Lakers
Sunday, March 2, 2025 at 9:30 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAL 34 22 33 19 108LAC 28 15 34 25 102
LAC @ LAL ScoutingLAC @ LAL Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
LAL availability going into 2/22 · 1 day's restOUT Reddish missed 9 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 2 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Knecht back 2/12 after 3, 14 min since (77% of 19)
BACK Jemison III back 2/20 after 2, 14 min since (138% of 10)
LAL availability going into 2/25 · 2 days' restOUT Reddish missed 10 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 3 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Knecht back 2/12 after 3, 13 min since (70% of 19)
BACK Jemison III back 2/20 after 2, 9 min since (85% of 10)
LAL availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Reddish missed 11 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 4 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Knecht back 2/12 after 3, 12 min since (67% of 19)
BACK Jemison III back 2/20 after 2, 9 min since (85% of 10)
LAL availability going into 2/28 · back-to-backOUT Reddish missed 12 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 5 since 2/19, out tonight
OUT Milton missed 2 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Len missed 2 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Jemison III missed 2 since 2/25, returns tonight: 22 min (214% of 10)
LAL availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Reddish missed 13 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 6 since 2/19, out tonight
OUT Milton missed 3 since 2/25, returns tonight: 8 min (78% of 11)
OUT Len missed 3 since 2/25, out tonight
BACK Jemison III back 2/20 after 2, 13 min since (128% of 10)
LAL availability going into 3/04 · 1 day's restOUT Hachimura missed 2 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Reddish missed 14 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 7 since 2/19, out tonight
OUT Len missed 4 since 2/25, returns tonight: 4 min (43% of 10)
BACK Milton back 3/02 after 3, 8 min since (78% of 11)
BACK Jemison III back 2/28 after 2, 20 min since (196% of 10)
LAL availability going into 3/06 · 1 day's restOUT Reaves missed 2 since 3/02, returns tonight: 32 min (91% of 35)
OUT Hachimura missed 3 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Reddish missed 15 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Goodwin missed 2 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 8 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Milton back 3/02 after 3, 14 min since (125% of 11)
BACK Len back 3/04 after 4, 4 min since (43% of 10)
BACK Jemison III back 2/28 after 2, 19 min since (185% of 10)
LAL availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Hachimura missed 4 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Reddish missed 16 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Goodwin missed 3 since 3/02, returns tonight: 16 min (91% of 17)
OUT Morris missed 9 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Reaves back 3/06 after 2, 32 min since (91% of 35)
BACK Milton back 3/02 after 3, 14 min since (125% of 11)
BACK Len back 3/04 after 4, 4 min since (43% of 10)
BACK Jemison III back 2/28 after 2, 18 min since (172% of 10)
NEW Hayes 19 to 26 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT Hachimura missed 5 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Reddish missed 17 since 1/30, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 10 since 2/19, out tonight
OUT Milton missed 2 since 3/06, returns tonight: 6 min (52% of 11)
OUT Len missed 2 since 3/06, returns tonight: 13 min (127% of 10)
BACK Reaves back 3/06 after 2, 35 min since (100% of 35)
BACK Goodwin back 3/08 after 3, 16 min since (91% of 17)
BACK Jemison III back 2/28 after 2, 15 min since (149% of 10)
NEW Finney-Smith 29 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Hayes 19 to 27 min over the last 4
LAC availability going into 2/23 · 2 days' restOUT Miller missed 3 since 2/12, out tonight
NEW Powell 33 to 38 min over the last 4
LAC availability going into 2/24 · back-to-backOUT Powell missed 2 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 4 since 2/12, out tonight
NEW Simmons 15 to 24 min over the last 3
LAC availability going into 2/26 · 1 day's restOUT Leonard missed 2 since 2/23, returns tonight: 33 min (100% of 33)
OUT Powell missed 3 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 5 since 2/12, out tonight
NEW Dunn 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Simmons 15 to 24 min over the last 3
LAC availability going into 2/28 · 1 day's restOUT Powell missed 4 since 2/20, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 6 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 2/26 after 2, 33 min since (100% of 33)
NEW Dunn 24 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Simmons 15 to 22 min over the last 4
LAC availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Powell missed 5 since 2/20, returns tonight: 9 min (27% of 33)
OUT Miller missed 7 since 2/12, returns tonight: 5 min (48% of 11)
BACK Leonard back 2/26 after 2, 35 min since (108% of 33)
NEW Dunn 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Simmons 15 to 20 min over the last 4
LAC availability going into 3/04 · 1 day's restBACK Leonard back 2/26 after 2, 37 min since (112% of 33)
BACK Powell back 3/02 after 5, 9 min since (27% of 33)
BACK Miller back 3/02 after 7, 5 min since (48% of 11)
NEW Dunn 24 to 29 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/05 · back-to-backOUT Jones Jr. missed 2 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Simmons missed 2 since 3/02, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 2/26 after 2, 37 min since (112% of 33)
BACK Powell back 3/02 after 5, 9 min since (27% of 33)
BACK Miller back 3/02 after 7, 8 min since (70% of 11)
NEW Dunn 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Bogdanović 23 to 29 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/07 · 1 day's restOUT Powell missed 2 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Jones Jr. missed 3 since 3/02, returns tonight: 18 min (74% of 24)
OUT Simmons missed 3 since 3/02, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 2/26 after 2, 37 min since (112% of 33)
BACK Miller back 3/02 after 7, 11 min since (98% of 11)
NEW Dunn 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Bogdanović 23 to 30 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/09 · 1 day's restOUT Powell missed 3 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Simmons missed 4 since 3/02, out tonight
BACK Jones Jr. back 3/07 after 3, 18 min since (74% of 24)
BACK Miller back 3/02 after 7, 11 min since (98% of 11)
NEW Leonard 33 to 38 min over the last 4
NEW Dunn 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Bogdanović 23 to 31 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 101, shooting 47 percent and 31 from three, 28 free throws a game; James at 31 and Dončić at 26 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 5 a night. Without Reddish (13 straight), Morris (6 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Harden at 24 and Leonard at 21 a game. Without Powell (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 101 a night to the Clippers' 115 and the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-5 a night and the Clippers minus-0. Call it the Lakers 113, the Clippers 107.
2/22 @ DEN 123-100 — LAL notes
LAL won 123-100. LAL shot 50% (43 of 86) to DEN's 40%, 16 of 41 from three. LAL turned it over 8 times to DEN's 20. Dončić led with 32 (10 of 22, 4 of 9 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); James added 25, Reaves 23. The hinge was Q4, 27-13: a lead of 9 became 23, and the lead reached 26. Finney-Smith was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
2/25 vs DAL 107-99 — LAL notes
LAL won 107-99. LAL shot 45% (39 of 87) to DAL's 36%, 11 of 40 from three, and went to the line 24 times to DAL's 13 — 18 points from the stripe to their 12. The glass went 57-45 for them. James led with 27 (11 of 17, 2 of 4 from three); Reaves added 20, Dončić 19. The hinge was Q1, 28-20: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 16. Hachimura was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
2/27 vs MIN 111-102 — LAL notes
LAL won 111-102. LAL shot 41% (34 of 82) to MIN's 42%, 11 of 41 from three, and went to the line 46 times to MIN's 26 — 32 points from the stripe to their 20. The glass went 52-41 for them. James led with 33 (11 of 21, 4 of 9 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Reaves added 23, Dončić 21. The hinge was Q1, 33-17: from level to 16 ahead, and the lead reached 23. Hachimura was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
2/28 vs LAC 106-102 — LAL notes
LAL won 106-102. LAL shot 49% (39 of 80) to LAC's 45%, 11 of 33 from three. Dončić led with 31 (9 of 22, 3 of 9 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); James added 28. The hinge was Q2, 35-29: LAL came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 5. Vanderbilt was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
3/02 vs LAC 108-102 — LAL notes
LAL won 108-102. LAL shot 49% (38 of 77) to LAC's 43%, 18 of 42 from three. Dončić led with 29 (9 of 17, 5 of 12 from three, 6 of 9 at the line); Knecht added 19, James 17. The hinge was Q2, 22-15: a lead of 6 became 13, and the lead reached 21. Finney-Smith was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
3/04 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 101, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Dončić at 26 and James at 26 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Hachimura (2 straight), Reddish (14 straight), Morris (7 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Williamson at 23 and Murphy III at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Brooks Jr. (8 straight), Boston (9 straight), Payton (39 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 101 a night to New Orleans's 112 and the line, where the Lakers take 27 free throws a game to New Orleans's 18. Call it the Lakers 115, New Orleans 109.
3/06 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 104, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 28 free throws a game; James at 28 and Dončić at 26 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 7 a night. Without Reaves (2 straight), Hachimura (3 straight), Reddish (15 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 17 free throws a game; Brunson at 27 and Anunoby at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-7 a night and New York minus-3 and the line, where the Lakers take 28 free throws a game to New York's 17. Call it the Lakers 114, New York 110, New York keeping it close.
3/08 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 42 from three, 18 free throws a game; Tatum at 31 and Brown at 26 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Holiday (4 straight), Porziņģis (4 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 29 free throws a game; Dončić at 29 and James at 29 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 5 a night. Without Hachimura (4 straight), Reddish (16 straight), Goodwin (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 29 free throws a game to Boston's 18 and the arc, Boston at 42 percent from three to the Lakers' 35. Call it Boston 113, the Lakers 112, the Lakers keeping it close.
3/10 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 118, shooting 43 percent and 29 from three, 23 free throws a game; Thomas at 20 and C. Johnson at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Evbuomwan (5 straight), Etienne (2 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Dončić at 31 and James at 26 a game. Without Hachimura (5 straight), Reddish (17 straight), Morris (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-3 a night and Brooklyn minus-6 and the arc, the Lakers at 36 percent from three to Brooklyn's 29. Call it the Lakers 112, Brooklyn 109, Brooklyn keeping it close.
2/23 @ IND 111-129 — LAC notes
LAC lost 111-129. LAC shot 45% (38 of 85) to IND's 55%, 10 of 40 from three, and went to the line 33 times to IND's 27 — 25 points from the stripe to their 25. The glass went 32-46 against them. Harden led with 31 (9 of 17, 6 of 13 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Zubac added 22, Coffey 14. Q4 was theirs, 28-28, but the other 3 periods went 101-83 against them. Dunn's -21 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/24 @ DET 97-106 — LAC notes
LAC lost 97-106. LAC took 13 more shots (92 to 79), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 40% to DET's 46%, 11 of 41 from three, and got to the line 19 times to DET's 36. Harden led with 18 (5 of 22, 3 of 11 from three, 5 of 8 at the line); Jones Jr. added 15, Zubac 13. Q2 was theirs, 32-28, the deficit cut from 6 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 78-65 against them. Harden's -22 in 39 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/26 @ CHI 122-117 — LAC notes
LAC won 122-117. LAC shot 52% (44 of 85) to CHI's 49%, 19 of 37 from three, and went to the line 17 times to CHI's 11 — 15 points from the stripe to their 6. Harden led with 30 (9 of 20, 7 of 14 from three); Coffey added 20, Leonard 17. The hinge was Q3, 39-33: LAC came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 5. LAC trailed 59-60 at the half and won the second half 63-57. Simmons was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
2/28 @ LAL 102-106 — LAC notes
LAC lost 102-106. LAC shot 45% (39 of 87) to LAL's 49%, 9 of 37 from three. Zubac led with 27 (13 of 15); Leonard added 21, Harden 18. Q4 was theirs, 25-23, the deficit cut from 6 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 83-77 against them. They led by as many as 10. Bogdanović's -20 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/02 @ LAL 102-108 — LAC notes
LAC lost 102-108. LAC took 11 more shots (88 to 77), fed by 10 offensive rebounds, but shot 43% to LAL's 49%, 12 of 39 from three. Leonard led with 33 (13 of 23, 3 of 7 from three); Dunn added 15, Harden 13. Q4 was theirs, 25-19, the deficit cut from 12 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 89-77 against them. Harden's -18 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/04 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 125, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 18 free throws a game; Booker at 26 and Beal at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 21 free throws a game; Leonard at 24 and Harden at 22 a game. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 41 percent from three to the Clippers' 31 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 113 a night to Phoenix's 125. Call it Phoenix 115, the Clippers 113, the Clippers keeping it close.
3/05 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; Leonard at 23 and Harden at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Jones Jr. (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 106, shooting 51 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Cunningham at 22 and Beasley at 17 a game. Without Harper Jr. (12 straight). One day's rest.
So: Detroit wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Detroit takes 27 free throws a game to the Clippers' 20. Call it Detroit 113, the Clippers 110, the Clippers keeping it close.
3/07 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Harden at 26 and Leonard at 23 a game. Without Powell (2 straight), Jones Jr. (3 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 29 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brunson at 30 and Anunoby at 21 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 37 percent from three to New York's 29. Call it the Clippers 114, New York 110, New York keeping it close.
3/09 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Harden at 26 and Leonard at 24 a game. Without Powell (3 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 105, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 16 free throws a game; LaVine at 24 and DeRozan at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Sabonis (3 straight), Monk (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Sacramento at 42 percent from three to the Clippers' 34 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-6 a night and the Clippers minus-1. Call it Sacramento 112, the Clippers 111, the Clippers keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LALDF D. Finney-Smith
DK D. Knecht
GV G. Vincent
JH J. Hayes
JV J. Vanderbilt
LD L. Dončić
LJ L. James
SM S. Milton
TJ T. Jemison III
LACAC A. Coffey
BB B. Bogdanović
DE D. Eubanks
IZ I. Zubac
JH J. Harden
JM J. Miller
KB K. Brown
KD K. Dunn
KL K. Leonard
NB N. Batum
NP N. Powell
LAL/LAC the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Luka scores 29 points and LeBron adds 17 in the Lakers' 2nd straight win over the Clippers, 108-102
LOS ANGELES -- — Luka Doncic had 29 points and nine assists, LeBron James added 17 points and the Los Angeles Lakers hung on to beat the Los Angeles Clippers for the second time in three days, 108-102 on Sunday night.
Rookie Dalton Knecht scored 19 points for the Lakers, who won their sixth straight game despite playing without injured starters Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura . The Lakers have won 16 of 19 overall.
Kawhi Leonard scored a season-high 33 points for the Clippers, who erased most of a late 21-point deficit before falling short in their fifth loss in six games.
Norman Powell scored four points in the first quarter before leaving with right hamstring soreness. The Clippers’ leading scorer was making his return from a five-game absence with a left knee injury.
Two days after the Lakers held off the Clippers 106-102 , their second meeting also came down to the wire.
Leonard's 3-pointer trimmed the Lakers' lead to 107-102 with 1:40 to play, but the Clippers missed their final six shots.
Takeaways Clippers: They looked downright terrible while failing to score in the final 7:35 of the first half, missing 10 straight shots with three turnovers. Their late rally was encouraging, but Powell's absence hurts.
Lakers: Something special might be brewing. Doncic looks more comfortable by the day, and they continue to get impressive results despite major injuries and a brutal schedule. They've jumped into second place in the Western Conference at 38-21.
Key moment The Lakers led 86-66 when Doncic checked out with 2:20 left in the third quarter. The Clippers promptly began a 22-7 run.
Key stat James is now a point shy of becoming the first player in NBA history to score 50,000 combined points in the regular season and the playoffs.
Up next Both teams return Tuesday night. The Clippers visit the Suns, and the Lakers host the Pelicans.