NBA

Los Angeles Lakers at LA Clippers

· National Basketball Association
27-35, 9-19 Away
Final
111 - 132

34-31, 19-13 Home

Clippers surge to 132-111 victory, season sweep of Lakers

Ivica Zubac had 19 points and nine rebounds for the Clippers, who seized control of the sweep-clinching victory and their seventh straight win over the Lakers overall by scoring 23 consecutive points during the first six minutes of the third quarter.

The Clippers outscored their cross-hallway rivals 37-10 late into the third before coasting to their fifth consecutive victory in the past eight days, including two over the Lakers.

The victory was the latest in a torrid stretch for the Clippers, who have won seven of their last eight without likely their three most talented players: Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Norman Powell.

Although none of the trio is thought to be close to returning, Jackson and a gritty supporting cast have kept the Clips on track for another playoff berth with an increasing chance to avoid the play-in tournament after this victory, which pulled them within one game of seventh-place Minnesota.

“We came out on a mission,” Jackson said. “We wanted to close out. We’re still a hungry team. ... We feel like we’re writing our own story. We know what the narrative is with our guys out. We’re trying to do something special with this group. It’s about this team, to write our own story.”

Jackson hit four 3-pointers and embarrassed a succession of Lakers defenders, particularly in a fourth-quarter display that had the Clippers' portion of the crowd chanting his name. After Jackson and former teammate Russell Westbrook clashed and exchanged words, Jackson responded by drilling a 3-pointer over Westbrook's defense to earn one of several standing ovations.

“He loves it,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “He loves the moment. He’s a big-time player. Sometimes we go back and forth, but he’s held us together all year. ... It was a struggle when we first lost PG, because the offense is built around PG and Kawhi for the most part. But once we got a set rotation and understood how we had to play, these guys have bought into it, and it starts with our veterans. That’s the kind of team and the kind of culture we’ve built around here."

LeBron James had 26 points and eight rebounds for the Lakers, who have lost four straight and seven of eight to fall a season-worst eight games below .500 (27-35). A proud franchise that began the season with championship aspirations is now two games ahead of 11th-place Portland with little reason to think its spiral will end soon.

“We’ve had one quarter that’s killed us,” James said. “It’s been the second quarter. Today it was the third quarter.”

After scoring 14 consecutive points to close the first half with only a three-point deficit, the Lakers curiously became discombobulated early in the third after the referees didn't give a continuation foul to James and they were unable to challenge the call.

“We’re just persistent and staying with the work,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “We’ll leave no stone unturned to get this right, but it hasn’t come together for us. We’ll continue to try to find ways to win with Anthony (Davis) out. It’s not something we can’t do, but we haven’t found it yet.”

TIP-INS

Lakers: Talen Horton-Tucker sat out after spraining his ankle Tuesday. He was listed as probable before the game. ... The Lakers used their 31st starting lineup of the season with Dwight Howard moving in alongside rookie Austin Reaves and Malik Monk. ... Wenyen Gabriel hit a late 3-pointer in his Lakers debut. Los Angeles signed him Tuesday.

Clippers: Nicolas Batum appeared in his 900th career NBA game. ... Lue had no updates on the injury recoveries of George, Leonard and Powell: “I don't know. Sorry.” ... Justin Bieber, Rami Malek, Saweetie and UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya attended the game.

THAT'S MY DJ

D.J. Augustin had three points and six assists in his debut with the Lakers, who signed the 14-year NBA veteran Tuesday to bolster their backcourt depth. The Lakers are Augustin's 11th NBA franchise; Houston waived him Feb. 11.

UP NEXT

Lakers: Host Warriors on Saturday.

Clippers: Host Knicks on Sunday.

Regular Season Series

LAC win series 4-0

Matchup Prediction

Clippers: 59.8%
Lakers: 40.2%
*According to ESPN's Basketball Power Index

Recent Plays

4th 0.0 End of Game 111 - 132
4th 0.0 End of the 4th Quarter 111 - 132
4th 1.6 shot clock turnover 111 - 132
4th 25.6 Wayne Ellington makes two point shot (Kent Bazemore assists) 111 - 132
4th 33.5 Kent Bazemore defensive rebound 109 - 132

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/lal.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originLAL https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/lac.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originLAC
41-84 FG 51-93
48.8 Field Goal % 54.8
12-35 3PT 17-27
34.3 Three Point % 63.0
17-22 FT 13-15
77.3 Free Throw % 86.7
36 Rebounds 46
9 Offensive Rebounds 13
27 Defensive Rebounds 33
26 Assists 32
8 Steals 10
4 Blocks 3
14 Turnovers 10
0 Team Turnovers 2
14 Total Turnovers 12
0 Technical Fouls 0
0 Total Technical Fouls 0
0 Flagrant Fouls 0
24 Points Conceded Off Turnovers 15
27 Fast Break Points 19
54 Points in Paint 52
17 Fouls 22
6 Largest Lead 30

Game Information

crypto.com Arena

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Attendance: 19,068 · Capacity:

2024-25 Pacific Standings

TEAM W L PCT GB STRK
LA Lakers 33 21 .611 - W1
LA Clippers 31 24 .564 2.5 L1
Golden State 29 27 .518 5 W2
Sacramento 28 28 .500 6 L2
Phoenix 26 29 .473 7.5 L4
Full Standings

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