LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers snapped their four-game losing streak with a hard-fought 106-103 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night. LeBron James led the Lakers with 25 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, while Taurean Prince hit a crucial tiebreaking 3-pointer in the final minutes.
Anthony Davis contributed significantly with 22 points and 10 rebounds, helping the Lakers secure their second consecutive win over the Clippers after a prolonged losing streak against their city rivals. D’Angelo Russell and Prince made key plays in the closing stages, holding off a late Clippers surge.
The victory is a morale booster for the Lakers, who have struggled since winning the NBA’s Inaugural In-Season Tournament, with only four wins in their last 14 games. James’ powerful dunk over Paul George set the tone for the Lakers, who maintained a lead throughout the fourth quarter despite losing a 10-point advantage. The game remained tense until Norman Powell’s 3-point attempt for the Clippers narrowly missed as time expired.
Paul George and Ivica Zubac were standouts for the Clippers, scoring 22 points each, with Zubac also grabbing 19 rebounds. Kawhi Leonard added 15 points, and James Harden, playing his first game against the Lakers since joining the Clippers, scored 15 points and had nine assists.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue pointed to offensive struggles as the key issue for his team, which saw its five-game winning streak come to an end. Despite their recent form, the Clippers have won 14 of their last 17 games.
The Lakers extended their lead to 10 points early in the fourth quarter, but the Clippers fought back, tying the game on Powell’s free throws with just over two minutes left. However, Prince’s late 3-pointer and Harden’s response kept the game close until the final buzzer.
Russell, returning from a three-game absence due to injury, scored 13 points for the Lakers, including three 3-pointers. His contribution was vital in the Lakers’ effort to overcome their recent struggles against the Clippers.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham praised the Clippers, recognizing them as a championship-caliber team and highlighting the significance of the win.
The game marked the end of an era for the Clippers as the “visiting” team in their shared arena with the Lakers, as they will move to the new Intuit Dome in Inglewood next season.
Looking ahead, the Clippers will host the Phoenix Suns on Monday night, while the Lakers will face the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night.
