Los Angeles Lakers 125 vs 118 Los Angeles Clippers summary: stats, scores and highlights | NBA
The Los Angeles Clippers took a giant leap towards an automatic playoff bid with a win over the Lakers on Wednesday night. Norman Powell had 27 points off the bench to lead the Clips to the pivotal 125-118 victory.
Clips hot, LeBron not to start game
The Lakers came in as one of the hottest teams in the league, riding a four game win streak but were on the second end of a back-to-back to end a five game road trip. The Clippers and the Lakers came into the night with the same record and neck and neck at 6th and 7th in the standings, which meant the winner would get that much closer to avoiding the Play-In Tournament.
LeBron and the Lakers looked like a team playing their second game in as many days, getting off to a dreadful start as Russell Westbrook and the Clippers jumped out to an early 15-3 lead. Westbrook had 14 points against his former team, 10 of which came in a first quarter in which LAC went 7/10 from behind the arc.
D’Angelo Russell picked up the slack for Lebron and Anthony Davis who had a combined 9 points in the first half. Russell helped the Lakers momentarily take the lead in the first quarter after going down double digits but that didn't last long.
Powell’s monster night off bench
Kawhi Leonard was the anchor on the offensive side for the Clippers, who were without Paul George for the fifth straight game. With no George, Leonard would need some help and he got it in the form of Norman Powell. Powell had 9 point spurt and scored 13 in the second quarter to stretch the home team’s lead to 19 going into half.
LeBron got going coming out of the break, after scoring just three points and committing four turnovers in the first two quarters. James had 14 in the third quarter to help cut a one time 24 points Clipper lead to just 7, but it was Powell coming through in the clutch again, scoring 10 straight points to give the Clippers an double digit cushion going into the final quarter.
Lakers a game back of Clips and Warriors
Kawhi finished the game with 25 points, but it was Bone Hyland who took over in the early parts of the fourth. He hit thee quick threes and had 14 points on the night, all of them coming in the final 12 minutes as the Clippers strolled to victory to sneak into 5th place in the West.
With just two games to go the Clippers look like a shoe in for an automatic playoff birth, but will have to get past the Trail Blazers and the Suns to guarantee a few days of rest during the Play-In Tournament. The Lakers need to win out against the Suns and Jazz and hope either Golden State or the Clippers stumble if they want any chance at a 5 or 6 seed.
The Clips get the huge win over the Lakers and now lead them by a game with just two games to go in the regular season. They are knocking on the door of the top six in the West which would keep them from having to play the Play-In Tournament.
Kawahi was sensational finishing the game with 25 points, but he needed someone to step up with no Paul George, and that someone was Norman Powell who had 27 points to lead the Clips.
Powell had a streak of 9 straight points in the second quarter to help stretch the lead out, and had another 10 point outburst to give the Clips a cushion after LeBron and the Lakers cut the lead from 24 to 7 in the third.
Russell Westbrook came out with something to prove against his old team. He had 14 points on the night, 12 of those came in the first half.
LeBron had just 3 points and 4 turnovers at the halftime break as the Lakers trailed by 19 after two quarters.
Kawhi was money all night from the mid range and beyond, but was sure to get this high percentage bucket to drop off the feed from Gordon.
In the blink of an eye the Clippers were up 15-3 to start the game thanks to Eric Gordon's three early triples.
IT'S ALL OVER!!! THE CLIPPERS PULL OFF A MASSIVE WIN THAT MIGHT SECURE THEM A SPOT IN THE TOP 6 IN THE WEST!
Reaves back at the line after the foul on Mann, and he hits two of two with 23.1 seconds to go.
Clippers will take their final timeout up by 7.
Hyland back at the line and he hits both FTs.
Russell gets the uncontested floater down the lane to drop.
Hyland to the line after the foul on Reaves and he hits one of two FTs.
Reaves with a quick trigger three ball and that's good with under 50 to go.
Powell on the pull up out of the timeout and he's got 27 off the bench!
We are under a minute to go from LA and the Clippers will take a timeout.
Reaves pulled up from the elbow, hits the jumper and got fouled by Powell. FT is good to complete the three point play.
Powell gets into the lane and finishes with a floater in the lane.
James drills a 30 footer and the deficit is down to 10.
Vanderbilt on the baseline with the slam after the lob pass from Russell.
Zubac gets the tip slam off the Leonard missed floater!
James puts his head down and attacks the rack, gets the bucket and the foul! FT is good.
Entry pass from Russell to Davis and he gets the lay up down low.
Leonard fouled by Vanderbilt, and he hits both FTs.
Leonard sends LeBron to the line on the drive and he hits one of two FTs.
LeBron hits a three ball off the pull up, but it's a little to late for the Lakers.
Batum fouled by Reaves, and he hits both FTs to extend the lead back to 20.
Vanderbilt with the alley oop off the lob from Davis out of the timeout.
Powell gets the steal and lobs it up on the break for Leonard who throws down the one handed alley oop!
Timeout Lakers with 6:35 to go in the fourth quarter.
Hyland gets into the paint and he finishes with the floater! He's got 11 in the quarter!
Up top to Zubac from Hyland and the big man slams the alley oop down.
LeBron going strong to the rack and he gets the contested lay up to go.
Hyland strokes a three ball from the corner and he's got three triples in the quarter!
Gabriel gets the baby hook to go after the dump off from LeBron.
Russell weaving his way to the elbow and he hits the mid range jumper.
Hyland pulls the trigger from way downtown and he's got two of those in this quarter after going scoreless for the first three.
LeBron gets the inbound underneath and goes right up with it for an easy lay up.
Leonard at the line and he hits one of two after the foul on Gabriel.
Gabriel with the short jumper on the kick out from LeBron.
Mann drills the three ball and that's two straight to start the quarter and extend the LAC lead to 17!
Hyland with a huge three ball to start the quarter and get the Clippers back up by 14.
Powell on the drive and he dumped it off for Plumlee who threw down the slam on the baseline.
That will bring us to the end of the third quarter and the Clippers are up by 11 with 12 to go from LA.
LeBron blows past everyone and gets the finger roll off the glass to go.
Powell going back to the line and he hits both after the Hachimura foul. That's ten straight points for Powell and he his keep the Lakers at an arms distance.
James was blocked by Plumlee but he was called for the goaltend and the basket counts. Although the replay showed that was a clean block.
Schroder hits the mid range jumper to break up the Powell run.
Powell on the pull up, and he's got 8 straight points for the Clippers!
Powell at the line after the foul on Hachimura and he hits both FTs. That's six straight points for Powell.
Davis at the line after the foul on Plumlee and he gets both FTs to go.
Powell with four quick points after getting the lay up to go on the left side.
Powell at the line after the foul and Davis and he hits both FTs.
Davis drills the step back jumper from the win and he's got 7 in the quarter.
Vanderbilt got fouled by Powell and he hits one of two at the line.
Zubac to the line after the foul on Russell, and he hits both FTs breaking up a 19-3 run for the Lakers.
Davis drills the mid range jumper and the lead is down to single digits!
Vanderbilt picks off the inbound pass, and James gets the lay up to go in transition!
Reaves got the rebound, ran the break and hit the floater in transition to force a timeout from the Clippers with 6:47 on the clock.
The 24 point lead has been cut in half and LeBron and AD are just starting to get going.
Davis hits the jumper from inside the FT line and he's starting to warm up at the same time LeBron is.
Westbrook breaks up the Lakers run with a lay up and the foul! FT is no good.
Davis fouled by Zubac and he hits one of two FTs.
James stripped Zubac and went coast to coast for the lay up. He's got 10 points in the third after scoring just 3 in the first half.
James pulls up from the half court logo and the Clippers are going to take a timeout with 8:55 to go in the third quarter.
James pulls up from the half court logo and the Clippers are going to take a timeout with 8:55 to go in the third quarter.
Zubac back at the line after the foul on Davis, and he hits one of two.
James streaking down the land and he hangs on the finish off the glass.
LeBron finally sees the ball go through the basket with a three pointer. He's got just six tonight.
Leonard drills the three ball off the long offensive rebound and he's got 20 on the night!
Zubac at the line to start the third quarter and he hits both FTs after the foul on Vanderbilt.
WE ARE BACK IN LA FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!
I would have given you some Lakers highlights, but there weren't many to choose from. The Lakers Twitter account agrees considering they didn't post a single play from that first half.
Westbrook came out of the gate firing against his old team, and he went to the break with 12 points and 4 assists.
LeBron had 3 points, 1/6 from the field and 4 TOs in the first half. One of them led to this Mann jam on the break.
Kawhi had a great first half, working mostly from the mid range but he got this streak and slam early on to set the tone.
Gordon drilled three triples in the first quarter, and the Clips started the game 5/6 from behind the arc. They are 11/20 from downtown at the half.
LeBron James has just 3 points and is 1/6 from the field and Anthony Davis has just six points. Russell leads LA with 11 and Reaves has 10 but they need their Big Two to show up.
Leonard leads the Clippers with 17, Westbrook has 12 against his old team and Powell had all 13 of his points in the second quarter.
We are heading to halftime and the Clippers have been in complete control from the opening tip.
Leonard on the stop back in the corner and he's got 17 first half points to put the Clips up 19!
Westbrook pulls up from the elbow and drills the jumper over hsi old teammate LeBron.
Catch and release from Kawhi and he hits the long two to stretch the lead back out to 14
Reaves at the line after the foul on Powell, and he hits both FTs to bring the Clippers to within 11.
LeBron fouled by Kawhi, and he goes to the line where he hits one of two. He has just three points in this first half.
Reaves comes out of the timeout and pulls up on a three from the top of the key and the Lakers needed that bucket.
Kawhi drills a three ball and the lead is up to 17!!
The Lakers take a timeout with 4:39 to go in the half after the lead has been stretched out to the largest of the night.
Zubac working back down low and he gets another hook shot to drop.
Russell on the step back and he gets it to drop with AD and LeBron on the bench.
Powell splits the defenders and gets the transition lay up to go! He's got 13 in the quarter!
Gabriel with a floater in the lane after the dump off by Russell.
Powell to the line and he hits both. He's got 11 in the quarter.
Backdoor cut from Beasley and Gabriel found him for the finger roll down the lane.
Hachimura follows the Russell miss and gets the tip in to go.
Russell's pass was picked which lead to Mann getting an easy lay up on the other end.
Zubac on the baseline finish with the jump hook.
Hachimura was bailed out by Batum, and sent to the line with the clock running out and he hits both FTs.
Mann on the slam after picking up the loose ball in the paint.
Lakers need a timeout after a terrible start to this second quarter.
Zubac on the turn around jump hook and that goes for the Clippers big man.
Powell knocks down a triple try in the corner and he's got 9 points in two minutes off the bench!
Beasley drills another three and it's Powell vs. Beasley going at it here to start the second!
Powell's got a quick six after a third straight bucket to start the quarter.
Beasley in the corner and he drills the long two with a foot on the line.
Powell with four quick points off the bench to start the quarter as he hits the the floater on the baseline.
Powell fouled by Gabriel to start the second quarter and he hits both FTs.
We are at the end of the first quarter, and the Clippers lead by 6. They jumped out to an early double digit lead but the Lakers came back and briefly took the lead.
Russell has 9 to lead LA, AD has 6 and LeBron had a slow start with just 2.
Westbrook has 10 after the first quarter to lead all scorers, Gordon has 9 all from DT and Leonard has 8 .
Mann answers back with a long ball and the Clippers are 7/10 from downtown in this first quarter!
Brown gets his second three ball to go and the Clippers lead is back to three.
Leonard with another pull up from inside the lane.
Russell on a strong drive down the lane and his finger roll drops.
Plumlee working on the block and he finishes with the hook shot over Davis.
Gordon gets another one from downtown, and that's three from behind the arc for him already!
Kawhi calls for calm with a mid range jumper from the elbow to give the Clips back the lead.
Brown hits the three ball from the other corner and the Lakers lead for the first time tonight!
Russell with a quick trigger three ball, and the Lakers have pulled within two points after a slow start to the game.
Davis down low in traffic and he gets the roll off the front of the rim.
Westbrook comes out of the timeout and hits the short jumper from inside the FT line.
Brown with a fantastic underhand assist in transition to lead Reaves for the fast break dunk!
The Clippers want a timeout after the Lakers run has cut the lead to 5 with 4:16 to go in the opening quarter.
Davis fades away from the FT line and he's starting to get going here tonight.
Russell was fouled on the drive by Plumlee and he splits the two FTs.
Vanderbilt getting to the rack after Russell hit him down low, and he finishes with the lay up in traffic.
Batum drops ANOTHER three and the Clippers are 5/6 from downtown out of the gate!
Reaves splashes a three ball with a hand in his face and the Lakers are starting to see the ball go in after a cold start!
Westbrook pulls up from the mid range and he's off to a hot start with 7 points.
LeBron driving down the lane and he finishes high off the glass with the left hand.
Westbrook answers back with a three ball and you know he's got something to prove after getting run out of LA by the Lakers fans.
Russell comes out of the timeout and strings a three ball to try to kick start this Lakers offense!
Gordon nails his second three of the game, and the Clips are off to a 15-3 start!
The Lakers will take an early timeout and try to sort their offense out with 8:26 to go in the first quarter.
Leonard streaking down the lane and he glides to the iron for the one handed slam!
Davis down low and they need him for all 48 minutes tonight in LA.
Kawhi gets his night started with a pull up jumper from the elbow.
Vanderbilt at the line and he gives the Lakers their first point with a FT but missed the other freebie.
Westbrook drops a triple try from the top of the key, and the Clips are off to an 8-0 start from Crypto.com!
Gordon drops the corner three and the Clips are off to a hot start from the field!
Westbrook lobs it up and there is Zubac underneath for the alley oop slam!
We are underway from Crypto.com Arena. Both teams need this win to avoid the Play-In, and we have 48 minutes to decide who walks out of tonight on top.
D'Angelo Russell is back in the starting five after sitting out last game. He will be joined by LeBron, AD, Jordon Vanderbilt and Austin Reaves
With no Paul George for the seventh straight game the Clippers are going with Russ, Erich Gordon, Batum and Zubac and of course their All-Star Kawhi Leonard.
What’s left for Clips
The Clippers will finish their regular season campaign with two home games before heading to Phoenix for the final game before the postseason. They take on the Lakers tonight and then play the Trailblazers on Saturday afternoon. Portland is out of the playoff picture and will be looking to play spoiler while the Suns may be looking towards the playoffs on the final day of the season.
What's left for Lakers
The new look Lake show have just two games left after tonight. They take on the Clips in a must win battle, and if they win they will have to hold off the Suns and the Jazz in the final two games of the season. Both games will be at home, and the Suns are looking like a lock for the 4 seed in the West, so who knows how much they will have to play for. The Jazz will most likely be out of Play-In contention but they want pay back on the Lakers who essentially ended their postseason chances.
Western Conference playoff outlook
Taking a look up and down the Western Conference we see the Denver Nuggets at the top of the standings, and looking like a virtual shoe in for the one seed heading into the playoffs. The Clippers and the Lakers are both 11 games back of the Nugs at 41-38 but it’s the Clippers who are in 6th, while the Lakers are in 7th because of the tie break between the two teams. The Warriors are a half game above both in 5th place but neither team will be worried about Golden State tonight. Whoever wins tonight will have a huge advantage to get the 6 seed and avoid the Play-In Tournament.
Lakers on the road at home
LeBron James took control and showed his foot that kept him out for a few weeks in March is doing just fine. He and the Lakers return to LA tonight, but will be getting ready for the must win matchup in the visitors locker room against the home side tonight. Road games haven’t troubled them much since LeBron got back in the line up, and tonight they can leap frog their city rivals in the Western Conference standings.
Clips back at Crypto
The Clips come back home clinging to the final guaranteed playoff spot in the West, but they have no margin for error against the Lakers tonight. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will be going up against a streaking side and will need to show up in front of the blue side of LA tonight from the Crypto.com Arena if they want to keep hold of their 6 seed.
Clippers last game
LAC finished off their three game road trip in New Orleans, and jumped out to an early lead on the big shoulders of Kawhi Leonard. He had 40 points on the night but after a third quarter that went back and forth the Pelicans pulled ahead thanks to Brandon Ingram’s 36 points, and every time Leonard hit a big shot Ingram was there to answer. New Orleans got a huge win that all but secured them a spot in the post season.
Lakers last game
The Lakers gave up a 10 point lead in the final 1:46 of their game against the Jazz in Utah, but made amends in the overtime session. Anthony Davis and LeBron James jumped LA out to a double digit lead before the half time break, but Utah kept close with them for the final two quarters. Austin Reaves had seven straight points to extend the lead to 10 with under 2 minutes to go but Kelly Olynyk banked in a huge three to spark the the comeback for the Jazz. They completed the miraculous comeback, send the game into OT, but LeBron took over scoring nine of his 37 in the bonus period.
We are live from LA
Hello everyone and welcome to Crypto.com Arena where the Lakers come back to LA on a four game win streak. All of those games have been won on the road, and tonight’s game will technically be a road game as well. The Clippers return from a road trip of their own and have lost their last two games. They come into tonight desperately needing to stop the skidding, but it’s not going to be easy against the revamped Lakers team that seems to be rolling at the right time.
Lakers vs. Clippers
It’s an all LA showdown from Crypto.com Arena and there is a whole lot on the line as we are officially in the last week of the season. Both of these teams guaranteed a spot in the post season, but both are looking to avoid the Play-In Tournament. The Lakers and the Clippers will go toe to toe in a four quarter bout that could decide who is going to the Play-In and who is qualifying directly to the playoffs. AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s pivotal matchup.