Game ID: 22500809
LA Clippers @ Los Angeles Lakers
Friday, February 20, 2026 at 10:00 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAL 41 31 27 26 125LAC 30 35 30 27 122
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 2/07 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 2 since 2/03, out tonight
BACK Reaves back 2/03 after 19, 23 min since (66% of 35)
BACK Kleber back 1/28 after 5, 9 min since (86% of 10)
LAL availability going into 2/09 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 3 since 2/03, out tonight
BACK Reaves back 2/03 after 19, 23 min since (67% of 35)
LAL availability going into 2/10 · back-to-backOUT Dončić missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 4 since 2/03, returns tonight: 17 min (157% of 11)
BACK Reaves back 2/03 after 19, 25 min since (71% of 35)
LAL availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Dončić missed 3 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Reaves back 2/03 after 19, 25 min since (71% of 35)
BACK Smith Jr. back 2/10 after 4, 17 min since (157% of 11)
LAL availability going into 2/20 · 7 days' restOUT Dončić missed 4 since 2/07, returns tonight: 38 min (106% of 36)
OUT Ayton missed 2 since 2/10, returns tonight: 28 min (100% of 27)
BACK Smith Jr. back 2/10 after 4, 17 min since (157% of 11)
NEW Kleber 10 to 17 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 2/22 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 2 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 2/20 after 4, 38 min since (106% of 36)
BACK Ayton back 2/20 after 2, 28 min since (100% of 27)
LAL availability going into 2/24 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 3 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 2/20 after 4, 35 min since (98% of 36)
BACK Ayton back 2/20 after 2, 26 min since (95% of 27)
LAL availability going into 2/26 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 4 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 2/20 after 4, 36 min since (101% of 36)
BACK Ayton back 2/20 after 2, 28 min since (103% of 27)
LAL availability going into 2/28 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 5 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 2/20 after 4, 37 min since (103% of 36)
BACK Ayton back 2/20 after 2, 27 min since (98% of 27)
LAC availability going into 2/08 · 1 day's restBACK Jones Jr. back 2/04 after 15, 24 min since (91% of 27)
BACK Bogdanović back 2/04 after 19, 12 min since (60% of 20)
NEW Sanders 20 to 25 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/10 · 1 day's restOUT Bogdanović missed 2 since 2/06, out tonight
BACK Jones Jr. back 2/04 after 15, 26 min since (95% of 27)
NEW Sanders 20 to 25 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/11 · back-to-backOUT Bogdanović missed 3 since 2/06, out tonight
BACK Jones Jr. back 2/04 after 15, 26 min since (96% of 27)
NEW Lopez 22 to 27 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/19 · 7 days' restOUT Bogdanović missed 4 since 2/06, out tonight
OUT Batum missed 2 since 2/10, returns tonight: 18 min (101% of 18)
BACK Jones Jr. back 2/04 after 15, 27 min since (99% of 27)
NEW Lopez 22 to 30 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/20 · back-to-backOUT Bogdanović missed 5 since 2/06, out tonight
BACK Batum back 2/19 after 2, 18 min since (101% of 18)
NEW Collins 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Lopez 22 to 32 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/22 · 1 day's restOUT Sanders missed 2 since 2/19, returns tonight: 26 min (133% of 20)
OUT Bogdanović missed 6 since 2/06, out tonight
BACK Batum back 2/19 after 2, 16 min since (94% of 18)
NEW Lopez 22 to 32 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/26 · 3 days' restOUT Bogdanović missed 7 since 2/06, returns tonight: 17 min (87% of 20)
OUT Jackson missed 2 since 2/20, out tonight
BACK Sanders back 2/22 after 2, 26 min since (133% of 20)
BACK Batum back 2/19 after 2, 15 min since (87% of 18)
NEW Dunn 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Jones Jr. 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Lopez 22 to 31 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/01 · 2 days' restOUT Collins missed 2 since 2/22, returns tonight: 25 min (91% of 27)
OUT Jackson missed 3 since 2/20, returns tonight: 4 min (27% of 16)
BACK Sanders back 2/22 after 2, 23 min since (115% of 20)
BACK Bogdanović back 2/26 after 7, 17 min since (87% of 20)
BACK Batum back 2/19 after 2, 18 min since (103% of 18)
NEW Dunn 27 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Jones Jr. 27 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Lopez 22 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Niederhäuser 10 to 16 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/02 · back-to-backBACK Collins back 3/01 after 2, 25 min since (91% of 27)
BACK Sanders back 2/22 after 2, 17 min since (84% of 20)
BACK Bogdanović back 2/26 after 7, 17 min since (87% of 20)
BACK Batum back 2/19 after 2, 18 min since (105% of 18)
BACK Jackson back 3/01 after 3, 4 min since (27% of 16)
NEW Jones Jr. 27 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Lopez 22 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Niederhäuser 10 to 18 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 3-2 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 115, shooting 52 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; James at 22 and Reaves at 21 a game. Without Dončić (4 straight), Ayton (2 straight). 7 days' rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 105, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 29 free throws a game; Leonard at 29 and Mathurin at 21 a game. Without Bogdanović (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 18 times a game to the Clippers' 12 and the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-3 a night and the Clippers minus-4. Call it the Lakers 114, the Clippers 110, the Clippers keeping it close.
2/07 vs GSW 105-99 — LAL notes
LAL won 105-99. LAL shot 51% (35 of 69) to GSW's 42%, 11 of 27 from three, and went to the line 30 times to GSW's 11 — 24 points from the stripe to their 7. LAL turned it over 22 times to GSW's 12, and GSW turned those into 16 steals. James led with 20 (6 of 17, 2 of 7 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Hachimura added 18, Reaves 16. The hinge was Q3, 38-29: LAL came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 8. LAL trailed 41-42 at the half and won the second half 64-57. Kleber was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
2/09 vs OKC 110-119 — LAL notes
LAL lost 110-119. LAL shot 50% (42 of 84) to OKC's 48%, 10 of 31 from three, and got to the line 23 times to OKC's 29. James led with 22 (9 of 17, 0 of 4 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Smart added 19, Reaves 16. Q3 was theirs, 33-26, the deficit cut from 9 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 93-77 against them. Reaves's -14 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/10 vs SAS 108-136 — LAL notes
LAL lost 108-136. LAL shot 48% (41 of 85) to SAS's 57%, 11 of 25 from three. LAL turned it over 18 times to SAS's 12, and SAS turned those into 14 steals. The glass went 34-45 against them. Kennard led with 14 (5 of 8, 1 of 3 from three); Timme added 14, Hayes 13. Q4 was theirs, 27-21, the deficit cut from 34 to 28, but the other 3 periods went 115-81 against them. LaRavia's -31 in 18 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/12 vs DAL 124-104 — LAL notes
LAL won 124-104. LAL shot 56% (48 of 86) to DAL's 49%, 10 of 31 from three. The glass went 44-28 for them. L. James led with 28 (10 of 20, 2 of 7 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Hachimura added 21, Reaves 18. The hinge was Q3, 32-19: a lead of 1 became 14, and the lead reached 22. Hayes was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
2/20 vs LAC 125-122 — LAL notes
LAL won 125-122. LAL shot 52% (44 of 85) to LAC's 55%, 17 of 31 from three. The glass went 32-42 against them. Dončić led with 38 (11 of 25, 8 of 14 from three, 8 of 11 at the line); Reaves added 29, James 13. The hinge was Q1, 41-30: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 16. Hachimura was the night's best plus/minus at +9.
2/22 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; James at 21 and Reaves at 20 a game. One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 103, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 16 free throws a game; Brown at 26 and Pritchard at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-11 a night and the Lakers minus-2 and the defense, Boston allowing 103 a night to the Lakers' 116. Call it Boston 113, the Lakers 112, the Lakers keeping it close.
2/24 vs ORL — 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 111 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; James at 21 and Reaves at 20 a game. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 106, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Bane at 29 and Banchero at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Fra. Wagner (3 straight), Suggs (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Orlando allowing 106 a night to the Lakers' 118. Call it Orlando 115, the Lakers 113, the Lakers keeping it close.
2/26 @ 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 95 a night and allowing 111, shooting 38 percent and 30 from three, 12 free throws a game; Green at 17 and Gillespie at 13 a game. Without Booker (3 straight), Brooks (2 straight), Goodwin (2 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Dončić at 28 and James at 20 a game. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 22 free throws a game to Phoenix's 12 and the arc, the Lakers at 38 percent from three to Phoenix's 30. Call it Phoenix 112, the Lakers 111, the Lakers keeping it close.
2/28 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 16 free throws a game; Melton at 21 and Moody at 18 a game. Without Ste. Curry (9 straight), Porziņģis (3 straight), Williams (4 straight). 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 32 and James at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 24 free throws a game to Golden State's 16. Call it Golden State 117, the Lakers 113, the Lakers keeping it close.
2/08 @ MIN 115-96 — LAC notes
LAC won 115-96. LAC shot 51% (39 of 76) to MIN's 45%, 14 of 27 from three, and went to the line 28 times to MIN's 22 — 23 points from the stripe to their 14. LAC turned it over 13 times to MIN's 20. Leonard led with 41 (14 of 30, 5 of 11 from three, 8 of 10 at the line); Collins added 15, Niederhäuser 15. The hinge was Q3, 26-17: a lead of 12 became 21, and the lead reached 28. Dunn was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
2/10 @ HOU 95-102 — LAC notes
LAC lost 95-102. LAC took 9 more shots (88 to 79), fed by 17 offensive rebounds, but shot 41% to HOU's 46%, 8 of 30 from three. LAC turned it over 11 times to HOU's 16. Leonard led with 24 (7 of 19, 2 of 7 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Collins added 17. Q2 was theirs, 26-24, turning a 1-point deficit into a 1-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 78-69 against them. Leonard's -16 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/11 @ HOU 105-102 — LAC notes
LAC won 105-102. LAC shot 47% (36 of 77) to HOU's 46%, 11 of 28 from three, and went to the line 26 times to HOU's 18 — 22 points from the stripe to their 14. LAC turned it over 9 times to HOU's 21. The glass went 32-45 against them. Leonard led with 27 (9 of 20, 1 of 5 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Dunn added 16, Mathurin 16. The hinge was Q4, 35-26: LAC came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 3. LAC trailed 46-56 at the half and won the second half 59-46. Dunn was the night's best plus/minus at +7.
2/19 vs DEN 115-114 — LAC notes
LAC won 115-114. LAC shot 47% (41 of 87) to DEN's 45%, 8 of 33 from three. LAC turned it over 12 times to DEN's 17. Mathurin led with 38 (12 of 22, 2 of 6 from three, 12 of 13 at the line); Leonard added 23, Jones Jr. 22. The hinge was Q3, 33-25: LAC came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 1. LAC trailed 45-52 at the half and won the second half 70-62. Niederhäuser was the night's best plus/minus at +7.
2/20 @ LAL 122-125 — LAC notes
LAC lost 122-125. LAC shot 55% (45 of 82) to LAL's 52%, 8 of 21 from three. The glass went 42-32 for them. Leonard led with 31 (11 of 19, 4 of 6 from three); Mathurin added 26, Lopez 16. Q2 was theirs, 35-31, the deficit cut from 11 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 94-87 against them. Batum's -9 in 15 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/22 vs ORL — 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 110 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 27 free throws a game; Leonard at 29 and Mathurin at 22 a game. Without Sanders (2 straight), Bogdanović (6 straight). One day's rest. Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 108, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Bane at 26 and Banchero at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Fra. Wagner (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been minus-1 a night and Orlando minus-9. Call it the Clippers 113, Orlando 111, Orlando keeping it close.
2/26 vs MIN — 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 109 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 30 from three, 27 free throws a game; Leonard at 28 and Mathurin at 22 a game. Without Bogdanović (7 straight), Jackson (2 straight). 3 days' rest. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 118, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Edwards at 29 and Randle at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 39 percent from three to the Clippers' 30 and the turnovers, Minnesota giving it away 17 times a game to the Clippers' 11. Call it the Clippers 116, Minnesota 115, Minnesota keeping it close.
3/01 vs NOP — 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 108 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 29 from three, 28 free throws a game; Leonard at 30 and Mathurin at 23 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Collins (2 straight), Jackson (3 straight). 2 days' rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 33 from three, 29 free throws a game; Bey at 25 and Williamson at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Murphy III (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 109 a night to New Orleans's 116 and the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 16 times a game to the Clippers' 13. Call it the Clippers 116, New Orleans 112, New Orleans keeping it close.
3/02 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 14 free throws a game; Melton at 19 and Moody at 17 a game. Without Ste. Curry (10 straight), Porziņģis (4 straight), Cryer (13 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 32 from three, 29 free throws a game; Leonard at 28 and Mathurin at 22 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Clippers take 29 free throws a game to Golden State's 14 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 112 a night to Golden State's 118. Call it Golden State 116, the Clippers 113, the Clippers keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LALAR A. Reaves
DA D. Ayton
DO Doncic
JH J. Hayes
JL J. LaRavia
JV J. Vanderbilt
LD L. Dončić
LJ L. James
LK L. Kennard
MS M. Smart
RH R. Hachimura
LACBL B. Lopez
BM B. Mathurin
DJ D. Jones Jr.
JC J. Collins
JM J. Miller
KD K. Dunn
KL K. Leonard
NB N. Batum
NI Niederhauser
YN Y. Niederhäuser
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 Doncic scores 38 and the Lakers hold off the Clippers 125-122 to split LA rivals' season series
LOS ANGELES -- — Luka Doncic had 38 points and 11 assists, Austin Reaves added 29 points and the Los Angeles Lakers held off the Los Angeles Clippers down the stretch for a 125-122 victory Friday night.
LeBron James had 13 points and 11 assists for the Lakers in their return from the All-Star break. They blew a 15-point lead in the second half, but Doncic scored 12 points in the fourth quarter as the Lakers split the four-game season series with their crosstown rivals.
Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points before missing the final 5:10 with an apparent ankle injury for the Clippers (27-29), who fell just short of getting back to .500 in incredible fashion after their 6-21 start to the season.
Bennedict Mathurin had 26 points and seven rebounds in his second straight outstanding game for his new team before fouling out with 1:49 to play. The athletic guard acquired from Indiana for center Ivica Zubac dropped a career-high-tying 38 against Denver on Thursday.
Derrick Jones Jr . scored on consecutive possessions to trim the Lakers' lead to 123-120 with 46 seconds left. Nicolas Batum then stole James' pass in the final seconds, but the Frenchman missed a tying 3-point attempt with 4 seconds left.
Doncic, James and Reaves were able to play together for only the 11th time in the Lakers’ 55 games this season, thanks to a rare moment of full health for the Lakers coming out of the break. They responded with a prolific offensive performance, even while James managed just two points in the second half.
In Doncic’s return from a four-game absence followed by a five-minute All-Star Game appearance due to a mildly strained hamstring, the Slovenian superstar scored 17 points with four 3-pointers in a dynamic first quarter for the Lakers, who made 16 of 17 shots in one stretch.
Leonard, who had just one bucket in the first, answered with a 19-point second.
The Clippers' John Collins was helped off the court with 18 seconds left in the first half after he bloodied his face on a hard landing while trying to catch a long pass at the rim.