Game ID: 22500395
Los Angeles Lakers @ LA Clippers
Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 10:30 PM ET
Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAC 28 26 26 23 103LAL 15 24 22 27 88
LAC vs LAL ScoutingLAC vs 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.
LAC availability going into 12/06 · back-to-backOUT Jones Jr. missed 10 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 2 since 12/03, out tonight
OUT Lopez missed 6 since 11/25, returns tonight: 10 min (44% of 22)
OUT Bogdanović missed 8 since 11/22, returns tonight: 23 min (116% of 20)
BACK Niederhäuser back 12/01 after 2, 8 min since (73% of 10)
NEW Batum 18 to 25 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/11 · 4 days' restOUT Jones Jr. missed 11 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 3 since 12/03, out tonight
OUT Niederhäuser missed 2 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Lopez back 12/06 after 6, 10 min since (44% of 22)
BACK Bogdanović back 12/06 after 8, 23 min since (116% of 20)
NEW Batum 18 to 23 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/15 · 3 days' restOUT Jones Jr. missed 12 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 4 since 12/03, returns tonight: 22 min (99% of 22)
OUT Niederhäuser missed 3 since 12/05, returns tonight: 4 min (36% of 10)
BACK Lopez back 12/06 after 6, 12 min since (53% of 22)
BACK Bogdanović back 12/06 after 8, 24 min since (120% of 20)
NEW Batum 18 to 23 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/18 · 2 days' restOUT Jones Jr. missed 13 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Miller back 12/15 after 4, 22 min since (99% of 22)
BACK Lopez back 12/06 after 6, 12 min since (53% of 22)
BACK Bogdanović back 12/06 after 8, 22 min since (112% of 20)
BACK Niederhäuser back 12/15 after 3, 4 min since (36% of 10)
NEW Batum 18 to 24 min over the last 4
LAC availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Jones Jr. missed 14 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Miller back 12/15 after 4, 21 min since (96% of 22)
BACK Lopez back 12/06 after 6, 13 min since (58% of 22)
BACK Bogdanović back 12/06 after 8, 23 min since (115% of 20)
BACK Niederhäuser back 12/15 after 3, 4 min since (36% of 10)
NEW Batum 18 to 24 min over the last 4
LAC availability going into 12/23 · 2 days' restOUT Jones Jr. missed 15 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Niederhäuser missed 2 since 12/18, returns tonight: 15 min (149% of 10)
BACK Miller back 12/15 after 4, 15 min since (68% of 22)
BACK Lopez back 12/06 after 6, 16 min since (72% of 22)
BACK Bogdanović back 12/06 after 8, 22 min since (110% of 20)
LAC availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Jones Jr. missed 16 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Miller back 12/15 after 4, 12 min since (55% of 22)
BACK Niederhäuser back 12/15 after 3, 10 min since (92% of 10)
NEW Leonard 32 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Batum 18 to 23 min over the last 4
LAC availability going into 12/28 · 1 day's restOUT Zubac missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Jones Jr. missed 17 since 11/17, returns tonight: 18 min (68% of 27)
BACK Miller back 12/15 after 4, 13 min since (57% of 22)
BACK Niederhäuser back 12/15 after 3, 10 min since (102% of 10)
NEW Leonard 32 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Batum 18 to 24 min over the last 4
LAC availability going into 12/30 · 1 day's restOUT Zubac missed 3 since 12/23, out tonight
BACK Jones Jr. back 12/28 after 17, 18 min since (68% of 27)
BACK Niederhäuser back 12/23 after 2, 13 min since (129% of 10)
NEW Leonard 32 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Lopez 22 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Batum 18 to 25 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 12/07 · 1 day's restOUT Dončić missed 2 since 12/04, returns tonight: 39 min (109% of 36)
OUT Smart missed 5 since 11/28, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 8 since 11/18, returns tonight: 3 min (19% of 17)
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/01 after 5, 14 min since (133% of 11)
NEW Vincent 19 to 24 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 12/10 · 2 days' restOUT Smart missed 6 since 11/28, returns tonight: 28 min (96% of 29)
BACK Dončić back 12/07 after 2, 39 min since (109% of 36)
BACK Vanderbilt back 12/07 after 8, 3 min since (19% of 17)
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/01 after 5, 14 min since (133% of 11)
LAL availability going into 12/14 · 3 days' restOUT Smith Jr. missed 2 since 12/07, out tonight
OUT Kleber missed 2 since 12/07, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 12/07 after 2, 40 min since (112% of 36)
BACK Smart back 12/10 after 6, 28 min since (96% of 29)
BACK Vanderbilt back 12/07 after 8, 3 min since (19% of 17)
LAL availability going into 12/18 · 3 days' restOUT Smith Jr. missed 3 since 12/07, returns tonight: 5 min (49% of 11)
OUT Kleber missed 3 since 12/07, returns tonight: 19 min (184% of 10)
BACK Dončić back 12/07 after 2, 39 min since (110% of 36)
BACK Smart back 12/10 after 6, 30 min since (102% of 29)
BACK Vanderbilt back 12/07 after 8, 9 min since (54% of 17)
LAL availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Reaves missed 2 since 12/14, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 12/07 after 2, 39 min since (110% of 36)
BACK Smart back 12/10 after 6, 29 min since (99% of 29)
BACK Vanderbilt back 12/07 after 8, 14 min since (86% of 17)
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/18 after 3, 5 min since (49% of 11)
BACK Kleber back 12/18 after 3, 19 min since (184% of 10)
LAL availability going into 12/23 · 2 days' restOUT Reaves missed 3 since 12/14, returns tonight: 22 min (62% of 35)
OUT Ayton missed 2 since 12/18, returns tonight: 27 min (100% of 27)
OUT Vincent missed 2 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 12/07 after 2, 35 min since (99% of 36)
BACK Smart back 12/10 after 6, 30 min since (100% of 29)
BACK Vanderbilt back 12/07 after 8, 18 min since (105% of 17)
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/18 after 3, 14 min since (124% of 11)
BACK Kleber back 12/18 after 3, 17 min since (169% of 10)
LAL availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Hachimura missed 2 since 12/20, returns tonight: 28 min (93% of 30)
OUT Vincent missed 3 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Reaves back 12/23 after 3, 22 min since (62% of 35)
BACK Smart back 12/10 after 6, 30 min since (101% of 29)
BACK Ayton back 12/23 after 2, 27 min since (100% of 27)
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/18 after 3, 18 min since (169% of 11)
BACK Kleber back 12/18 after 3, 15 min since (141% of 10)
NEW Vanderbilt 17 to 22 min over the last 4
LAL availability going into 12/28 · 2 days' restOUT Vincent missed 4 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Reaves back 12/23 after 3, 18 min since (52% of 35)
BACK Hachimura back 12/25 after 2, 28 min since (93% of 30)
BACK Ayton back 12/23 after 2, 32 min since (116% of 27)
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/18 after 3, 18 min since (169% of 11)
BACK Kleber back 12/18 after 3, 12 min since (121% of 10)
NEW Vanderbilt 17 to 23 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 12/30 · 1 day's restOUT Vincent missed 5 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Hayes missed 2 since 12/25, returns tonight: 18 min (101% of 18)
BACK Reaves back 12/23 after 3, 18 min since (52% of 35)
BACK Hachimura back 12/25 after 2, 27 min since (91% of 30)
BACK Ayton back 12/23 after 2, 31 min since (114% of 27)
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/18 after 3, 20 min since (182% of 11)
BACK Kleber back 12/18 after 3, 13 min since (123% of 10)
NEW Vanderbilt 17 to 24 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 Clippers come in 0-5 over their last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Leonard at 22 and Harden at 22 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Jones Jr. (14 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 32 free throws a game; Dončić at 35 and James at 26 a game. Without Reaves (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 32 free throws a game to the Clippers' 22 and the turnovers, the Clippers giving it away 17 times a game to the Lakers' 13. Call it the Lakers 116, the Clippers 115, the Clippers keeping it close.
12/06 @ MIN 106-109 — LAC notes
LAC lost 106-109. LAC took 17 more shots (85 to 68), fed by 10 offensive rebounds, but shot 47% to MIN's 50%, 9 of 29 from three, and got to the line 25 times to MIN's 34. Harden led with 34 (10 of 18, 1 of 5 from three, 13 of 15 at the line); Leonard added 20, Zubac 15. Q1 was theirs, 34-22, but the other 3 periods went 87-72 against them. They led by as many as 18. Batum's -18 in 17 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/11 @ HOU 113-115 — LAC notes
LAC lost 113-115. LAC shot 50% (39 of 78) to HOU's 46%, 14 of 38 from three. The glass went 28-51 against them. Zubac led with 33 (13 of 14, 7 of 11 at the line); Leonard added 24, Harden 22. Q2 was theirs, 25-22, but the other 3 periods went 93-88 against them. Sanders's -12 in 9 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/15 vs MEM 103-121 — LAC notes
LAC lost 103-121. LAC shot 46% (37 of 80) to MEM's 52%, 13 of 36 from three. LAC turned it over 18 times to MEM's 11, and MEM turned those into 10 steals. Leonard led with 21 (9 of 18, 1 of 5 from three); Dunn added 17, Harden 13. Q1 was theirs, 27-25, but the other 3 periods went 96-76 against them. Brown's -27 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/18 @ OKC 101-122 — LAC notes
LAC lost 101-122. LAC shot 49% (37 of 76) to OKC's 48%, 10 of 32 from three, and went to the line 22 times to OKC's 16 — 17 points from the stripe to their 13. LAC turned it over 28 times to OKC's 8, and OKC turned those into 18 steals. The glass went 49-38 for them. Leonard led with 22 (9 of 17, 0 of 5 from three); Collins added 20, Dunn 14. Q1 was theirs, 33-27, but the other 3 periods went 95-68 against them. They led by as many as 11. Batum's -28 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/20 vs LAL 103-88 — LAC notes
LAC won 103-88. LAC shot 42% (34 of 80) to LAL's 39%, 16 of 43 from three. LAC turned it over 16 times to LAL's 11. Leonard led with 32 (8 of 24, 4 of 12 from three, 12 of 12 at the line); Harden added 21, Collins 17. The hinge was Q1, 28-15: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Collins was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
12/23 vs HOU — 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 105 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Leonard at 24 and Harden at 22 a game. Without Jones Jr. (15 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Sengun at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Finney-Smith (26 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-10 a night and the Clippers plus-0 and the arc, Houston at 42 percent from three to the Clippers' 35. Call it Houston 116, the Clippers 113, the Clippers keeping it close.
12/26 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 30 free throws a game; Sharpe at 26 and Avdija at 26 a game. Without Holiday (18 straight), Grant (3 straight), Henderson (30 straight). 2 days' rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Leonard at 28 and Harden at 21 a game. Without Jones Jr. (16 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the line, where Portland takes 30 free throws a game to the Clippers' 23 and the arc, the Clippers at 39 percent from three to Portland's 34. Call it Portland 116, the Clippers 113, the Clippers keeping it close.
12/28 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 3-2 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 29 and Harden at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Zubac (2 straight), Jones Jr. (17 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 25 free throws a game; Cunningham at 23 and Duren at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: Detroit wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 42 percent from three to Detroit's 32 and the glass, where Detroit has been plus-8 a night and the Clippers plus-1. Call it Detroit 115, the Clippers 113, the Clippers keeping it close.
12/30 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 4-1 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 104, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 26 free throws a game; Leonard at 36 and Harden at 28 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Zubac (3 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 118, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 26 free throws a game; DeRozan at 22 and Westbrook at 18 a game. Without Murray (2 straight), LaVine (6 straight), Sabonis (18 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 43 percent from three to Sacramento's 33 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 104 a night to Sacramento's 118. Call it the Clippers 117, Sacramento 110.
12/07 @ PHI 112-108 — LAL notes
LAL won 112-108. LAL shot 48% (41 of 85) to PHI's 35%, 13 of 36 from three. Dončić led with 31 (9 of 24, 2 of 9 from three, 11 of 14 at the line); James added 29, Hachimura 17. The hinge was Q3, 34-24: LAL came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 3. LAL trailed 53-60 at the half and won the second half 59-48. Dončić was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
12/10 vs SAS 119-132 — LAL notes
LAL lost 119-132. LAL shot 49% (43 of 87) to SAS's 50%, 16 of 37 from three, and got to the line 23 times to SAS's 36. Dončić led with 35 (11 of 24, 3 of 8 from three, 10 of 14 at the line); Smart added 26, James 19. Q4 was theirs, 32-28, the deficit cut from 17 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 104-87 against them. LaRavia's -25 in 9 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/14 @ PHX 116-114 — LAL notes
LAL won 116-114. LAL shot 43% (38 of 88) to PHX's 49%, 7 of 37 from three, and went to the line 43 times to PHX's 25 — 33 points from the stripe to their 21. The glass went 54-37 for them. Dončić led with 29 (7 of 25, 2 of 14 from three, 13 of 14 at the line); James added 26, Ayton 20. The hinge was Q3, 24-15: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 20.
12/18 @ UTA 143-135 — LAL notes
LAL won 143-135. LAL shot 53% (49 of 93) to UTA's 52%, 13 of 39 from three, and got to the line 39 times to UTA's 47. LAL turned it over 7 times to UTA's 13. Dončić led with 45 (14 of 28, 4 of 12 from three, 13 of 16 at the line); James added 28, Smart 17. The hinge was Q4, 41-29: LAL came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 8. LAL trailed 73-78 at the half and won the second half 70-57. Kleber was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
12/20 @ LAC 88-103 — LAL notes
LAL lost 88-103. LAL took 8 more shots (88 to 80), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 39% to LAC's 42%, 6 of 38 from three. LAL turned it over 11 times to LAC's 16. James led with 36 (15 of 28, 3 of 7 from three); LaRavia added 12, Dončić 12. Q4 was theirs, 27-23, the deficit cut from 19 to 15, but the other 3 periods went 80-61 against them. LaRavia's -23 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/23 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Booker at 30 and Brooks at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Allen (2 straight), Green (18 straight). 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 29 from three, 31 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and James at 28 a game. Without Reaves (3 straight), Ayton (2 straight), Vincent (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-2 a night and Phoenix minus-9 and the line, where the Lakers take 31 free throws a game to Phoenix's 21. Call it Phoenix 115, the Lakers 114, the Lakers keeping it close.
12/25 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 123, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 31 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and James at 26 a game. Without Hachimura (2 straight), Vincent (3 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 123, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Sengun at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Finney-Smith (27 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Houston at 41 percent from three to the Lakers' 30 and the line, where the Lakers take 31 free throws a game to Houston's 24. Call it Houston 119, the Lakers 118, the Lakers keeping it close.
12/28 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 121, shooting 47 percent and 28 from three, 29 free throws a game; Dončić at 28 and James at 26 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Vincent (4 straight). 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 29 free throws a game; DeRozan at 24 and Westbrook at 19 a game. Without LaVine (5 straight), Sabonis (17 straight), Plowden (19 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the arc, Sacramento at 34 percent from three to the Lakers' 28. Call it the Lakers 119, Sacramento 115, Sacramento keeping it close.
12/30 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 29 and James at 26 a game. Without Vincent (5 straight), Hayes (2 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 27 free throws a game; Cunningham at 23 and Duren at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Detroit wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Detroit has been plus-7 a night and the Lakers minus-3 and the defense, Detroit allowing 112 a night to the Lakers' 118. Call it Detroit 116, the Lakers 115, the Lakers keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LALAT A. Thiero
DK D. Knecht
DO Doncic
JH J. Hayes
JL J. LaRavia
JV J. Vanderbilt
LD L. Dončić
LJ L. James
MK M. Kleber
MS M. Smart
NS N. Smith Jr.
LACBB B. Bogdanović
BL B. Lopez
BO Bogdanovic
IZ I. Zubac
JC J. Collins
JH J. Harden
KD K. Dunn
KL K. Leonard
KS K. Sanders
NB N. Batum
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
Kawhi Leonard has season-high 32 points as Clippers beat Lakers 103-88 to snap 5-game skid
INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- — Kawhi Leonard scored a season-high 32 points and the slumping Los Angeles Clippers rode their 3-point shooting to a 103-88 victory over LeBron James and the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night, snapping a five-game skid.
Luka Doncic , the NBA's scoring leader, didn't return for the Lakers after halftime because of a lower leg contusion. He had 12 points and five rebounds in 19 minutes after missing his first six shots. Doncic was coming off a triple-double of 45 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists at Utah on Thursday.
James, who turns 41 on Dec. 30, led the Lakers with a season-high 36 points.
James Harden had 21 points and 10 assists for the Clippers. John Collins added 17 points and 12 rebounds.
The Clippers were 16 of 43 from 3-point range, with Leonard tying his season high with four, Harden making four and Brook Lopez hitting three off the bench. The Lakers missed 32 3-pointers, with James going 3 of 7, Doncic 1 of 6 and Marcus Smart missing all of his nine attempts.
The Clippers had lost 12 of their last 15 to fall to the bottom of the Western Conference. But they led the entire game and held off a Lakers spurt that cut their lead to seven to open the fourth.
The Lakers got that close with the help of a six-point possession. Kobe Sanders received a flagrant-1 foul on Smart's 3-point attempt. Smart made all three free throws and the Lakers got possession. James scored, got fouled and made the free throw, leaving them trailing 80-73.
The Clippers answered with back-to-back 3-pointers by Collins and Harden to go with Leonard's dunk off James' turnover. The Lakers then ran off six in a row to close to 88-79.
From there, the Clippers closed out just their seventh win of the season.
The Clippers lost Ivica Zubac to a left ankle injury after he scored five points while playing most of the first quarter.
Rui Hachimura missed his first start of the season for the Lakers with a sore groin. He’s expected to be out 3-5 days. The team hopes to get Deandre Ayton (left elbow) and Austin Reaves (left calf) back soon.
Up next Lakers: At Phoenix on Tuesday to end an eight-game trip.
Clippers: Host former MVP Kevin Durant and Houston on Tuesday.