The LA Clippers faced a tough night against the Los Angeles Lakers, falling 125-122 in a nail-biter that came down to the wire. Despite being shorthanded and feeling some frustration with the officiating, the Clippers battled until the final buzzer.
Bennedict Mathurin, in just his fourth game with the Clippers, shone brightly off the bench. He poured in 26 points, snagged seven rebounds, and dished out two assists.
His performance was a continuation of his hot start since joining the team at the trade deadline. However, his night was marred by fouling out late in the fourth quarter and picking up a technical foul that proved costly.
The incident occurred with 7:35 left in the second quarter. Mathurin was fouled by Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt, and in the ensuing tangle, he appeared to push off, resulting in a technical foul.
Mathurin was visibly puzzled by the call, but he pushed on. Austin Reaves capitalized by sinking the free throw.
In a twist, the NBA announced on Saturday morning that Mathurin's technical foul would be rescinded. This decision spares him a fine and reduces his technical foul count for the season. However, the free throw by Reaves remained on the scoreboard, a pivotal point that meant the Clippers needed a three-pointer on their final possession to tie the game.
Luka Doncic was the driving force for the Lakers, delivering an impressive 38 points, along with six rebounds, 11 assists, and three steals. Austin Reaves added 29 points, six rebounds, and two assists to the Lakers' effort.
For the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard led with 31 points, four rebounds, and five assists, shooting an efficient 11-of-19 from the field and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Mathurin's 26 points came on 7-of-16 shooting and an impressive 11-of-14 from the free throw line.
Jarred Vanderbilt should be fined for flopping https://t.co/nIEgX7sKvh pic.twitter.com/lg0ftTwDim
— BGB♛ (@BonesGotBizzy) February 21, 2026
Looking ahead, the Clippers are set to take on the Orlando Magic on Sunday night, but questions linger. Will Kawhi Leonard be ready to play after leaving Friday's game with ankle soreness?
And what about John Collins, who took a hard fall during a lob attempt? His status regarding the NBA's concussion protocol remains uncertain.
These are pressing concerns as the Clippers aim to bounce back in their next matchup.