Clippers Outlast Lakers In Thrilling Battle Of Los Angeles

The Battle of Los Angeles delivered another electric chapter on January 22, 2026, as the Los Angeles Clippers edged out the Los Angeles Lakers 112-104 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. A matchup steeped in city rivalry and playoff implications, this contest saw the Clippers extend their remarkable surge in the Western Conference, while the Lakers, despite a furious late rally, fell just short of completing a comeback.

Kawhi Leonard was the headline act, pouring in 24 points for the Clippers. Not only did he notch his 23rd consecutive game with at least 20 points—a career-high streak—but he did so while managing a left knee contusion. Leonard’s resilience has mirrored the Clippers’ own turnaround, with the team now winning seven of their last eight and 14 of their last 17 games. The Clippers’ resurgence, after a stretch that nearly bottomed out their season, has been one of the NBA’s most compelling storylines as the calendar flipped to 2026.

“Kawhi’s consistency has been the backbone of our recent run,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said postgame, according to the Associated Press. “He’s playing through pain, but you’d never know it by the way he’s leading us on both ends.”

The first half was all Clippers, who shot a sizzling 59% from the field while suffocating the Lakers into just 42% shooting. James Harden orchestrated the offense with poise, tallying 18 points and 10 assists by the final buzzer. Ivica Zubac, meanwhile, was a force in the paint, racking up 18 points and a monster 19 rebounds. The home team stormed into halftime with a 64-47 lead, thanks in part to a 17-7 run that included nine unanswered points as the Lakers’ offense sputtered without key playmaker Austin Reaves, sidelined by a calf strain.

“We knew we had to come out strong, especially with the Lakers missing some guys,” said Harden, who has been shouldering a heavy load with Kawhi Leonard’s health in question and Norman Powell coming off a 20-point performance in their previous meeting. “But you can never count them out—not with Luka and LeBron on the other side.”

Indeed, Luka Doncic did his best to keep the Lakers afloat. The NBA’s first-quarter scoring leader lived up to his billing, finishing with 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists. Doncic’s aggressive drives and timely three-pointers sparked a Lakers surge late in the third quarter, as Los Angeles outscored the Clippers 19-7 to trim a daunting 26-point deficit down to 14 entering the fourth. LeBron James, who closed in on a triple-double in the Lakers’ previous win over Denver, added 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists despite battling through lingering injury concerns and increased playmaking duties with Reaves out.

“Luka gave us a chance, and LeBron did what he always does—lead,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said after the game. “But we dug ourselves a hole early, and against a team this hot, that’s tough to overcome.”

The Lakers’ injury woes were a story unto themselves. Rui Hachimura (left knee strain), rookie Adou Thiero (right MCL sprain), Maxi Kleber (foot surgery), and Bronny James Jr. (undisclosed issue) were all unavailable, leaving the rotation thin. Deandre Ayton, however, was cleared to play, contributing 4 points and 5 rebounds in limited minutes. The lack of depth forced Redick to lean heavily on his stars, with LeBron and Doncic logging significant minutes against a Clippers squad at near-full strength.

Despite the adversity, the Lakers mounted a spirited charge in the final frame. A 19-7 run, capped by a Doncic three-pointer, pulled them within two points. The Intuit Dome crowd buzzed with anticipation—could the Lakers steal one on the road? But Harden, Zubac, and John Collins responded with a 10-0 Clippers run, highlighted by Harden’s clutch shooting and Zubac’s dominance on the glass. Collins, who finished with 13 points and 5 rebounds, delivered a crucial three-pointer and a pair of free throws in the closing minutes to keep the Lakers at bay.

“It’s all about execution down the stretch,” Zubac told reporters. “We made the stops, crashed the boards, and trusted each other. That’s Clippers basketball.”

Even as the Lakers clawed back—James hitting a jumper and a three-point play, Marcus Smart (10 points, 4 assists) and Rui Hachimura (12 points, 3 rebounds) chipping in—the Clippers always seemed to have an answer. Leonard, Harden, and Zubac combined to score the Clippers’ first 15 points of the third quarter, ballooning the lead to its largest at 26. Yet the Lakers never folded, outscoring the Clippers 19-7 late in the third and keeping the pressure on until the final horn.

The game also marked a statistical milestone for the Lakers, who entered averaging 116.3 points per game, compared to the Clippers’ 112.3. But the injuries and short rotations led to a more defense-oriented, grind-it-out affair. The Clippers’ 55-43 rebounding edge and 20-21 performance from the free-throw line (a stunning 95.2%) proved decisive. The Lakers, meanwhile, shot just 33.3% from deep and managed only 6 offensive rebounds all night.

For the Clippers, the win keeps their momentum rolling as they prepare to host the Brooklyn Nets on January 25. The Lakers, now 5-6 in their last 11, head to Dallas to open a six-game road trip against Doncic’s former team, searching for answers and, hopefully, a healthier roster.

“We’re not making excuses,” LeBron said. “It’s a long season. We’ll get healthy, we’ll get right, and we’ll be ready for the next one.”

With the season series now tipped in the Clippers’ favor, the city rivalry remains as fierce as ever. But on this night in Inglewood, it was the Clippers who stood tallest—thanks to Leonard’s brilliance, Harden’s steady hand, and a supporting cast that’s suddenly looking like a playoff threat in the West.