Doncic, Austin Reeves and LeBron James combined for 99 points as the Los Angeles Lakers clinched the group stage of the NBA Cup.
Published November 26, 2025
Luka Doncic scored 24 of his 43 points in the first quarter, along with 13 assists and nine rebounds, as the host Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 135-118 on Tuesday to clinch Group B of the NBA Cup West.
Austin Reeves scored 18 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter and collected nine rebounds as the Lakers won their fifth straight game. LeBron James scored 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, and Rui Hachimura scored 13 points.
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In the NBA Cup, the Lakers finished with a 3-0 record, while the Clippers finished with a 2-1 record. The Clippers are still aiming for a wild card spot.
James Harden had 29 points and nine assists, and Kawhi Leonard and Kris Dunn each had 19 points for the Clippers, who have lost 11 of their past 13 games. John Collins had 18 points and Ivica Zubac had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Lakers shot 57.5 percent from the field, including 13 of 29 (44.8 percent) from 3-point range. Doncic hit a season-best seven treys and scored 40 points for the fifth time this season.
The Clippers shot 51.9 percent from the field and 13-of-35 (37.1 percent) from behind the basket.
Dunn shoved a basketball into Doncic’s chest and was ejected with 3:33 left in the game after Jackson Hayes of the Lakers shoved him from behind and hit him in the face with an open hand. Hayes received a technical foul.
Reeves scored seven points on a 14-4 run, and the Lakers turned a five-point deficit into a 112-97 lead to start the fourth quarter.
Shortly after, the Lakers scored five straight points to push their advantage to 117-102 with 6:51 remaining.
The Clippers got within 124-115 on Harden’s basket with 2:55 left, but the Lakers scored the next nine points to seal the victory.
Doncic made five 3-pointers in the first quarter, scoring 24 points, but the Lakers entered the second quarter trailing 38-37.
Doncic had 32 points at halftime, when the Lakers led 69-66. Clippers’ Harden scored 16 points in the first half.
James’ basket gave the Lakers an 82-72 advantage with 8:30 left in the third quarter. But the Clippers scored the next 11 points and took an 83-82 lead on Leonard’s basket with 5:31 left.
The Lakers were in the lead again, and James made a 3-point play to take a 98-93 lead going into the final period.
