Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James combined for 99 points as the LA Lakers won their group at the NBA Cup.
Published on November 26, 2025
Luka Doncic scored 24 of his 43 points in the first quarter and finished with 13 assists and nine rebounds as the host Los Angeles Lakers notched a 135-118 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday to win West Group B of the NBA Cup.
Austin Reaves scored 18 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter and grabbed nine rebounds for the Lakers, who won their fifth straight game. LeBron James added 25 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Rui Hachimura had 13 points.
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The Lakers improved to 3-0 in the NBA Cup while the Clippers fell to 2-1. The Clippers are still in the running for a wild card spot.
James Harden recorded 29 points and nine assists, and Kawhi Leonard and Kris Dunn scored 19 points each for the Clippers, who have lost 11 of their last 13 games. John Collins scored 18 points and Ivica Zubac added 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Lakers shot a combined 57.5 percent from the field, including 13 of 29 (44.8 percent) from 3-point range. Doncic made a season-high seven triples while recording his fifth 40-point effort of the campaign.
The Clippers made 51.9 percent of their field goal attempts and were 13 of 35 (37.1 percent) from behind the arc.
Dunn was ejected with 3:33 left after pushing the basketball into Doncic’s chest and hitting the Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes in the face with an open hand after Hayes pushed Dunn from behind. Hayes received a technical foul.
Reaves scored seven points during a 14-4 run to start the fourth quarter as the Lakers turned a five-point advantage into a 112-97 lead.
Shortly after, he scored five straight points for the Lakers to increase the advantage to 117-102 with 6:51 left.
The Clippers slipped to 124-115 on Harden’s basket with 2:55 left before the Lakers scored the next nine points to secure the victory.
Doncic made five 3-pointers in his 24-point first quarter, but the Lakers trailed 38-37 early in the second.
Doncic had 32 points at halftime as the Lakers led 69-66. Harden scored 16 points in the first half for the Clippers.
James’ basket gave the Lakers an 82-72 advantage with 8:30 left in the third quarter. The Clippers, however, ripped off the next 11 points, taking an 83-82 advantage on Leonard’s basket with 5:31 to play.
The Lakers took over again and James converted a three-point play to give them a 98-93 lead heading into the final stanza.
