Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 15, 2025 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Gary Dineen, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP/File
The Los Angeles Lakers reigned supreme in their final encounter against hometown rival Clippers in the 2025-26 season of the NBA, 125-122, on Friday at the Crypto.com Arena (Saturday in Manila).
Luka Doncic led the way for the Lakers with 38 points and 11 assists while Austin Reaves supported him with 29 points.
Reaves had a pivotal play late, drawing a charge from Benedict Mathurin in the final two minutes that led the Canadian to foul out.
Afterward, Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised not just the effort of his leading scorers but also Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton.
"I thought Smart and DA (Ayton) in that fourth quarter were really (the) difference-makers for us," he said. "Smart was fantastic on defense all night … DA was great, very engaged, and was able to execute our defensive game plan."
The game marked only the 11th time in 55 games that the Lakers saw Doncic, Reaves, and LeBron James in the game at the same time.
Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard top-scored for the Clippers with 31 points, but left the game in the final five minutes. Mathurin came off the bench to score 26 points.
Despite the loss, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue praised the fight that his team showed.
"That's who we are. This group, we are going to compete. We're going to fight every night and that was not like a team that's trying to lose to me. We're going to scrap every night. That's who we are," he said.
The Lakers are back in action on Sunday against archrivals Boston, while the Clippers host the Orlando Magic on the same day.