Game ID: 22500059
LA Clippers @ Los Angeles Lakers
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 at 11:00 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAL 37 32 29 37 135LAC 38 28 27 25 118
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 11/14 · 1 day's restOUT Vincent missed 9 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 2 since 11/10, out tonight
BACK Reaves back 11/10 after 3, 30 min since (86% of 35)
BACK Kleber back 11/08 after 6, 11 min since (110% of 10)
LAL availability going into 11/15 · back-to-backOUT Vincent missed 10 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 3 since 11/10, returns tonight: 3 min (27% of 11)
BACK Reaves back 11/10 after 3, 33 min since (95% of 35)
BACK Kleber back 11/08 after 6, 11 min since (110% of 10)
LAL availability going into 11/18 · 2 days' restOUT Vincent missed 11 since 10/27, returns tonight: 16 min (83% of 19)
BACK Reaves back 11/10 after 3, 34 min since (97% of 35)
BACK Smith Jr. back 11/15 after 3, 3 min since (27% of 11)
BACK Kleber back 11/08 after 6, 16 min since (154% of 10)
LAL availability going into 11/23 · 4 days' restBACK Reaves back 11/10 after 3, 34 min since (97% of 35)
BACK Vincent back 11/18 after 11, 16 min since (83% of 19)
BACK Smith Jr. back 11/15 after 3, 3 min since (27% of 11)
LAL availability going into 11/25 · 1 day's restOUT Vanderbilt missed 2 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 2 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Vincent back 11/18 after 11, 18 min since (94% of 19)
LAL availability going into 11/28 · 2 days' restOUT Vanderbilt missed 3 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 3 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Vincent back 11/18 after 11, 18 min since (94% of 19)
LAL availability going into 11/30 · 1 day's restOUT Vanderbilt missed 4 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 4 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Vincent back 11/18 after 11, 19 min since (100% of 19)
LAL availability going into 12/01 · back-to-backOUT Smart missed 2 since 11/28, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 5 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 5 since 11/18, returns tonight: 6 min (52% of 11)
BACK Vincent back 11/18 after 11, 20 min since (105% of 19)
LAL availability going into 12/04 · 2 days' restOUT Smart missed 3 since 11/28, out tonight
OUT Vanderbilt missed 6 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/01 after 5, 6 min since (52% of 11)
LAC availability going into 11/17 · back-to-backOUT Leonard missed 7 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Paul missed 5 since 11/08, returns tonight: 11 min (79% of 14)
OUT Niederhäuser missed 5 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Sanders back 11/12 after 8, 20 min since (102% of 20)
BACK Bogdanović back 11/12 after 2, 31 min since (156% of 20)
LAC availability going into 11/20 · 2 days' restOUT Leonard missed 8 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Niederhäuser missed 6 since 11/08, returns tonight: 11 min (103% of 10)
BACK Sanders back 11/12 after 8, 23 min since (115% of 20)
BACK Bogdanović back 11/12 after 2, 30 min since (151% of 20)
BACK Paul back 11/17 after 5, 11 min since (79% of 14)
LAC availability going into 11/22 · 1 day's restOUT Leonard missed 9 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Jones Jr. missed 2 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 2 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Sanders back 11/12 after 8, 24 min since (118% of 20)
BACK Bogdanović back 11/12 after 2, 28 min since (142% of 20)
BACK Paul back 11/17 after 5, 17 min since (121% of 14)
BACK Niederhäuser back 11/20 after 6, 11 min since (103% of 10)
LAC availability going into 11/23 · back-to-backOUT Leonard missed 10 since 11/04, returns tonight: 26 min (82% of 32)
OUT Jones Jr. missed 3 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 3 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Paul back 11/17 after 5, 19 min since (135% of 14)
BACK Niederhäuser back 11/20 after 6, 7 min since (67% of 10)
NEW Bogdanović 20 to 30 min over the last 4
LAC availability going into 11/25 · 1 day's restOUT Jones Jr. missed 4 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 4 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 2 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 11/23 after 10, 26 min since (82% of 32)
BACK Paul back 11/17 after 5, 19 min since (131% of 14)
BACK Niederhäuser back 11/20 after 6, 6 min since (56% of 10)
NEW Sanders 20 to 27 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 11/28 · 2 days' restOUT Jones Jr. missed 5 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 5 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 3 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 11/23 after 10, 27 min since (84% of 32)
BACK Paul back 11/17 after 5, 17 min since (118% of 14)
BACK Niederhäuser back 11/20 after 6, 5 min since (47% of 10)
NEW Sanders 20 to 26 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 11/29 · back-to-backOUT Jones Jr. missed 6 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 6 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Lopez missed 2 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 4 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 11/23 after 10, 28 min since (86% of 32)
BACK Niederhäuser back 11/20 after 6, 5 min since (47% of 10)
LAC availability going into 12/01 · 1 day's restOUT Jones Jr. missed 7 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 7 since 11/17, returns tonight: 6 min (25% of 22)
OUT Lopez missed 3 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 5 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Niederhäuser missed 2 since 11/28, returns tonight: 12 min (120% of 10)
BACK Leonard back 11/23 after 10, 28 min since (87% of 32)
NEW Batum 18 to 24 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/03 · 1 day's restOUT Jones Jr. missed 8 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Lopez missed 4 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 6 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 11/23 after 10, 28 min since (88% of 32)
BACK Miller back 12/01 after 7, 6 min since (25% of 22)
BACK Niederhäuser back 12/01 after 2, 12 min since (120% of 10)
NEW Batum 18 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 Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 32 from three, 31 free throws a game; Dončić at 31 and Reaves at 23 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Vanderbilt (2 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Harden at 34 and Zubac at 19 a game. Without Jones Jr. (4 straight), Miller (4 straight), Bogdanović (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-2 and the defense, the Lakers allowing 110 a night to the Clippers' 119. Call it the Lakers 119, the Clippers 111.
11/14 @ NOP 118-104 — LAL notes
LAL won 118-104. LAL shot 52% (44 of 84) to NOP's 44%, 10 of 34 from three, and went to the line 26 times to NOP's 18 — 20 points from the stripe to their 14. Reaves led with 31 (9 of 16, 2 of 6 from three, 11 of 13 at the line); Dončić added 24, Ayton 20. The hinge was Q1, 35-25: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Ayton was the night's best plus/minus at +35.
11/15 @ MIL 119-95 — LAL notes
LAL won 119-95. LAL shot 49% (38 of 77) to MIL's 40%, 13 of 33 from three, and went to the line 33 times to MIL's 24 — 30 points from the stripe to their 16. Dončić led with 41 (9 of 19, 5 of 11 from three, 18 of 20 at the line); Reaves added 25, Ayton 20. The hinge was Q2, 35-16: a lead of 12 became 31. LaRavia was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
11/18 vs UTA 140-126 — LAL notes
LAL won 140-126. LAL shot 60% (50 of 84) to UTA's 52%, 11 of 32 from three, and went to the line 40 times to UTA's 18 — 29 points from the stripe to their 17. Dončić led with 37 (11 of 22, 2 of 10 from three, 13 of 16 at the line); Reaves added 26, Ayton 20. The hinge was Q3, 37-22: LAL came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 11, and the lead reached 23. LAL trailed 67-71 at the half and won the second half 73-55. Vincent was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
11/23 @ UTA 108-106 — LAL notes
LAL won 108-106. LAL shot 44% (38 of 86) to UTA's 43%, 10 of 38 from three, and went to the line 27 times to UTA's 18 — 22 points from the stripe to their 13. Dončić led with 33 (10 of 24, 3 of 12 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); Reaves added 22, James 17. The hinge was Q2, 30-25: a lead of 2 became 7.
11/25 vs LAC 135-118 — LAL notes
LAL won 135-118. LAL shot 57% (50 of 87) to LAC's 52%, 13 of 29 from three. Dončić led with 43 (14 of 28, 7 of 12 from three, 8 of 11 at the line); Reaves added 31, L. James 25. The hinge was Q4, 37-25: a lead of 5 became 17. Hayes was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
11/28 vs DAL — 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 124 a night and allowing 110, shooting 53 percent and 34 from three, 30 free throws a game; Dončić at 36 and Reaves at 27 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 6 a night. Without Vanderbilt (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 111, shooting 41 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Flagg at 17 and Washington at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Davis (13 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-6 a night and Dallas minus-7 and the line, where the Lakers take 30 free throws a game to Dallas's 24. Call it the Lakers 118, Dallas 109.
11/30 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 126 a night and allowing 113, shooting 54 percent and 39 from three, 30 free throws a game; Dončić at 38 and Reaves at 28 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 4 a night. Without Vanderbilt (4 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 27 free throws a game; Williamson at 23 and Murphy III at 19 a game. Without Jones (4 straight), Poole (13 straight), Jordan (16 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 39 percent from three to New Orleans's 33 and the defense, the Lakers allowing 113 a night to New Orleans's 120. Call it the Lakers 124, New Orleans 111, the Lakers by 13.
12/01 vs PHX — 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 129 a night and allowing 118, shooting 54 percent and 38 from three, 32 free throws a game; Dončić at 36 and Reaves at 30 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Smart (2 straight), Vanderbilt (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 114, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brooks at 23 and Booker at 21 a game. Without Green (11 straight), Dunn (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 32 free throws a game to Phoenix's 21. Call it the Lakers 120, Phoenix 114.
12/04 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 29 from three, 20 free throws a game; Ingram at 24 and Barnes at 24 a game. Without Barrett (5 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 118, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 27 free throws a game; Dončić at 37 and Reaves at 28 a game. Without Smart (3 straight), Vanderbilt (6 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Toronto wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 39 percent from three to Toronto's 29 and the defense, Toronto allowing 109 a night to the Lakers' 118. Call it Toronto 116, the Lakers 114, the Lakers keeping it close.
11/17 @ PHI 108-110 — LAC notes
LAC lost 108-110. LAC shot 40% (35 of 87) to PHI's 46%, 12 of 39 from three. Harden led with 28 (7 of 25, 2 of 12 from three, 12 of 12 at the line); Sanders added 17, Zubac 14. Q1 was theirs, 33-25, but the other 3 periods went 85-75 against them. They led by as many as 13.
11/20 @ ORL 101-129 — LAC notes
LAC lost 101-129. LAC shot 40% (36 of 89) to ORL's 48%, 14 of 36 from three. LAC turned it over 21 times to ORL's 10, and ORL turned those into 12 steals. Harden led with 31 (8 of 16, 5 of 11 from three, 10 of 12 at the line); Zubac added 14. Q3 was theirs, 27-32, but the other 3 periods went 97-74 against them. Harden's -20 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/22 @ CHA 131-116 — LAC notes
LAC won 131-116. LAC shot 51% (46 of 90) to CHA's 48%, 19 of 43 from three. Harden led with 55 (17 of 26, 10 of 16 from three, 11 of 14 at the line); Zubac added 18, Sanders 11. The hinge was Q3, 34-25: a lead of 5 became 14, and the lead reached 24. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
11/23 @ CLE 105-120 — LAC notes
LAC lost 105-120. LAC shot 46% (37 of 80) to CLE's 52%, 8 of 26 from three, and went to the line 26 times to CLE's 20 — 23 points from the stripe to their 13. Zubac led with 33 (15 of 22); Leonard added 20, Harden 19. Q4 was theirs, 26-28, but the other 3 periods went 92-79 against them. Lopez's -24 in 11 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/25 @ LAL 118-135 — LAC notes
LAC lost 118-135. LAC shot 52% (42 of 81) to LAL's 57%, 13 of 35 from three. Harden led with 29 (9 of 21, 3 of 12 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Dunn added 19, Leonard 19. Q1 was theirs, 38-37, but the other 3 periods went 98-80 against them. Leonard's -14 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/28 vs MEM — 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 113 a night and allowing 122, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Harden at 32 and Zubac at 18 a game. Without Jones Jr. (5 straight), Miller (5 straight), Bogdanović (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 20 and Aldama at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Without Morant (5 straight), Mashack (3 straight), Jackson (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-12 a night and the Clippers minus-3 and the defense, Memphis allowing 111 a night to the Clippers' 122. Call it Memphis 116, the Clippers 115, the Clippers keeping it close.
11/29 vs DAL — 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 112 a night and allowing 122, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Harden at 31 and Leonard at 26 a game. That is 3 straight losses. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Jones Jr. (6 straight), Miller (6 straight), Lopez (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 113, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Washington at 19 and Flagg at 16 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, Dallas allowing 113 a night to the Clippers' 122. Call it the Clippers 115, Dallas 113, Dallas keeping it close.
12/01 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 31 free throws a game; Herro at 26 and Powell at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Jakučionis (13 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Harden at 31 and Leonard at 27 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Jones Jr. (7 straight), Miller (7 straight), Lopez (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Miami has been plus-5 a night and the Clippers minus-2 and the line, where Miami takes 31 free throws a game to the Clippers' 25. Call it Miami 122, the Clippers 113.
12/03 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Johnson at 27 and Alexander-Walker at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Young (17 straight), Porziņģis (3 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 0-5 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 124, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 27 free throws a game; Leonard at 29 and Harden at 22 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Jones Jr. (8 straight), Lopez (4 straight), Bogdanović (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Clippers take 27 free throws a game to Atlanta's 22. Call it Atlanta 121, the Clippers 114.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LALAR A. Reaves
AT A. Thiero
BJ B. James
DT D. Timme
DO Doncic
GV G. Vincent
JH J. Hayes
JL J. LaRavia
LD L. Dončić
LJ L. James
MK M. Kleber
MS M. Smart
RH R. Hachimura
LACCC C. Christie
CP C. Paul
IZ I. Zubac
JC J. Collins
JH J. Harden
KB K. Brown
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
Luka, LeBron lead Lakers past Clippers 135-118 for 5th straight win, clinching their NBA Cup group
LOS ANGELES -- — Luka Doncic had 43 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds, and LeBron James added 25 points in the Los Angeles Lakers ' fifth consecutive victory, 135-118 over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night.
Doncic matched his season high with 32 points in the first half on the way to his 51st career 40-point game. He fell just short of his 10th career 40-point triple-double, but the Lakers clinched their group with their third straight win in NBA Cup play.
Austin Reaves had 31 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers, who have won 11 of 13 overall.
The 40-year-old James also looked more like his old self in the third game of his unprecedented 23rd NBA season, scoring 16 points in the second half while the Lakers steadily pulled away.
James Harden continued his scoring surge with 29 points and nine assists for the Clippers, who have lost 11 of 13. Kawhi Leonard scored 19 in his second game back from a 10-game injury absence.
The crosstown rivals' first meeting of the season got chippy when Clippers guard Kris Dunn was ejected with 3:33 to play after knocking Doncic to the ground with a hit to his back. Doncic confronted Dunn, who shoved the ball into Doncic's chest before Lakers center Jaxson Hayes shoved Dunn in the back. Dunn then swatted at Hayes, who also got a technical foul.
Doncic opened with his highest-scoring quarter of the season, making his first five 3-point attempts — after missing 17 of 22 in his previous two games — and scoring 20 points in the first eight minutes alone. He also directed a stream of trash talk and staredowns at the Clippers' bench, continuing a semi-friendly feud with LA's second team that predates his move to the Lakers.