LeBron scores 26, and the Lakers thrash the Clippers 122-97 with Luka Doncic watching on the bench

AP
Feb 05, 2025

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) LeBron James had 26 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and Luka Doncic watched approvingly from the bench while the Los Angeles Lakers thrashed the Los Angeles Clippers 122-97 Tuesday night.

Doncic clapped and occasionally fist-pumped during the Lakers' outstanding performance in their first game since they made the seismic trade to acquire the All-NBA scoring champion in exchange for star big man Anthony Davis. James and Doncic, who is close to a return from a strained calf, sat next to each other and talked at times.

Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura scored 20 points apiece for the Lakers, who finished a six-game trip with five victories despite losing Davis to injury even before the trade. The Lakers' victory was their first at Intuit Dome, their crosstown rivals' sparkling new arena.

Norman Powell scored 20 points for the Clippers (28-22), who fell two games behind the fifth-place Lakers (29-19) in the West.

James Harden went 2 of 12 for seven points, and Kawhi Leonard scored just 11 before both stars took the fourth quarter off.

Bronny James hit his first NBA 3-pointer while playing the final six minutes.

Patty Mills and Drew Eubanks played the final seven minutes in their debuts with the Clippers, who acquired the veterans Saturday from Utah.

Clippers: A lifeless effort in their return from a four-game trip. Owner Steve Ballmer had little to cheer.

Lakers: The results were brilliant, but the method was also impressive. They fought and worked on defense - something they'll have to do every night without Davis.

The Lakers put up 45 points in the first quarter - the most they've managed in any period this season.

The Lakers didn't make a turnover until midway through the second quarter.

The Lakers host the Warriors on Thursday. The Clippers host the Pacers on Thursday.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

1st Quarter
LAL
Lakers
45
LAC
Clippers
29

Time		Play	Score
12:00		Jaxson Hayes vs. Ivica Zubac (Lakers gains possession)
11:42	+2	Jaxson Hayes makes two point cutting layup (LeBron James assists)	2-0
11:42		Derrick Jones Jr. shooting foul (Jaxson Hayes draws the foul)
11:42		Jaxson Hayes misses regular free throw 1 of 1
11:40		James Harden defensive rebound
11:32	+3	Norman Powell makes three point jump shot (Derrick Jones Jr. assists)	2-3
11:10	+3	Austin Reaves makes three point pullup jump shot (Jaxson Hayes assists)	5-3
10:59	+3	Derrick Jones Jr. makes three point jump shot (James Harden assists)	5-6
10:44	+2	LeBron James makes two point jump shot (Austin Reaves assists)	7-6
10:29	+2	Norman Powell makes two point driving reverse layup (Ivica Zubac assists)	7-8
10:15	+2	Jaxson Hayes makes two point cutting dunk (Austin Reaves assists)	9-8
9:55		Kawhi Leonard misses two point fadeaway jump shot
9:53		Austin Reaves defensive rebound
9:45		Rui Hachimura misses three point jump shot
9:43		Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound
9:35		James Harden misses three point stepback jump shot
9:29		Rui Hachimura defensive rebound
9:24	+2	Austin Reaves makes two point driving layup	11-8
9:11		Kawhi Leonard turnover (lost ball) (Jaxson Hayes steals)
9:07	+2	Rui Hachimura makes two point running dunk	13-8
9:07		Clippers 60 second timeout
8:55		Dorian Finney-Smith shooting foul (Ivica Zubac draws the foul)
8:55	+1	Ivica Zubac makes regular free throw 1 of 2	13-9
8:55	+1	Ivica Zubac makes regular free throw 2 of 2	13-10
8:44		Rui Hachimura misses three point jump shot
8:41		James Harden defensive rebound
8:29		Dorian Finney-Smith personal foul (Ivica Zubac draws the foul)
8:14		James Harden misses two point driving floating jump shot
8:13		James Harden offensive rebound
8:11	+3	Kawhi Leonard makes three point jump shot (James Harden assists)	13-13
7:50	+2	LeBron James makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot	15-13
7:36	+2	Derrick Jones Jr. makes two point turnaround jump shot (Norman Powell assists)	15-15
7:26	+3	Rui Hachimura makes three point jump shot (Austin Reaves assists)	18-15
7:04		Kawhi Leonard misses two point driving floating jump shot
7:01		Ivica Zubac offensive rebound
7:01		Ivica Zubac misses two point tip layup
7:01		Clippers offensive rebound
6:51		James Harden misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot
6:49		Ivica Zubac offensive rebound
6:49		Ivica Zubac misses two point tip layup
6:47		LeBron James defensive rebound
6:40		Kawhi Leonard blocks Jaxson Hayes's two point layup
6:40		Clippers defensive rebound
6:40		Clippers 60 second timeout
6:29	+3	Derrick Jones Jr. makes three point jump shot (James Harden assists)	18-18
6:06	+2	LeBron James makes two point turnaround bank jump shot	20-18
5:53		Jaxson Hayes blocks James Harden's two point driving layup
5:50		Jaxson Hayes defensive rebound
5:50		Derrick Jones Jr. personal foul (LeBron James draws the foul)
5:50		Clippers delay of game violation
5:40	+3	Austin Reaves makes three point pullup jump shot	23-18
5:24		James Harden misses three point stepback jump shot
5:24		Kris Dunn offensive rebound
5:20	+3	Norman Powell makes three point jump shot (Kris Dunn assists)	23-21
4:55	+2	Rui Hachimura makes two point cutting layup (Austin Reaves assists)	25-21
4:43	+2	Norman Powell makes two point pullup jump shot (James Harden assists)	25-23
4:35	+3	Rui Hachimura makes three point jump shot (Austin Reaves assists)	28-23
4:22		Kawhi Leonard misses two point pullup jump shot
4:17		Gabe Vincent defensive rebound
4:04		Austin Reaves misses three point pullup jump shot
4:02		Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound
3:54		Kawhi Leonard misses three point jump shot
3:52		Jarred Vanderbilt defensive rebound
3:48	+3	Gabe Vincent makes three point running jump shot (Jaxson Hayes assists)	31-23
3:34		Norman Powell misses three point pullup jump shot
3:31		Jaxson Hayes defensive rebound
3:16		Gabe Vincent misses three point jump shot
3:14		Ivica Zubac defensive rebound
3:02		Norman Powell misses three point jump shot
2:57		Austin Reaves defensive rebound
2:42		Jarred Vanderbilt misses two point cutting layup
2:39		Jarred Vanderbilt offensive rebound
2:38	+2	Jarred Vanderbilt makes two point putback layup	33-23
2:19	+2	Kris Dunn makes two point turnaround jump shot (Ivica Zubac assists)	33-25
2:12		Lakers 60 second timeout
2:04	+2	Dalton Knecht makes two point cutting dunk (LeBron James assists)	35-25
1:45		Jaxson Hayes shooting foul (Norman Powell draws the foul)
1:45	+1	Norman Powell makes regular free throw 1 of 2	35-26
1:45	+1	Norman Powell makes regular free throw 2 of 2	35-27
1:31		Kris Dunn shooting foul (LeBron James draws the foul)
1:31	+1	LeBron James makes regular free throw 1 of 2	36-27
1:31	+1	LeBron James makes regular free throw 2 of 2	37-27
1:22		James Harden turnover (lost ball) (Jarred Vanderbilt steals)
1:18	+2	Dalton Knecht makes two point running dunk (LeBron James assists)	39-27
0:57		Nicolas Batum misses three point jump shot
0:54		Kris Dunn offensive rebound
0:51		Kevin Porter Jr. misses two point cutting layup
0:49		LeBron James defensive rebound
0:42		Kris Dunn shooting foul (LeBron James draws the foul)
0:42		LeBron James misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:42		Lakers offensive rebound
0:42		LeBron James misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:39		Jaxson Hayes offensive rebound
0:37	+3	LeBron James makes three point pullup jump shot (Jaxson Hayes assists)	42-27
0:18		Terance Mann misses two point fadeaway jump shot
0:15		Jarred Vanderbilt defensive rebound
0:01	+3	LeBron James makes three point stepback jump shot	45-27
0:01	+2	Amir Coffey makes two point layup (James Harden assists)	45-29
0:00		End of period

LeBron scores 26, and the Lakers thrash the Clippers 122-97 with Luka Doncic watching on the bench

1st Quarter LALLakers45LACClippers29

1st Quarter
LAL
Lakers
45
LAC
Clippers
29