Clippers Snap Skid Behind Kawhi’s Big Night, Take Down Shorthanded Lakers at Intuit Dome
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The Clippers finally got the jolt they’ve been searching for - and it came in the form of a wire-to-wire win over their cross-town rivals. Kawhi Leonard dropped a season-high 32 points to power the Clippers past the Lakers, 103-88, at Intuit Dome on Saturday night, snapping a five-game losing streak and giving the team a much-needed spark heading into the holidays.
Now sitting at 7-21, the Clippers are still buried at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, but this performance - especially against a Lakers squad that came in at 19-8 - showed signs of life that have been missing for weeks.
Kawhi Takes Over - and the Clippers Catch Fire From Deep
This one was all about the three-point line. The Clippers didn’t just win the game - they won the math battle, and they did it convincingly.
L.A. (the Clippers, that is) drilled 16-of-43 from beyond the arc, good for 37 percent. The Lakers?
A brutal 6-of-38, just 16 percent. That kind of disparity is hard to overcome, no matter who’s on the floor.
Leonard led the way with four threes of his own, tying his season high, and stuffed the stat sheet with 12 rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks. He looked like the two-way force Clippers fans have been waiting to see all season - calm, calculated, and in complete control.
After the game, Leonard kept it simple when asked about the team's mindset during the losing streak: “It’s very mental. One thing that you’ve got to do is play hard, have fun, and compete.”
That’s exactly what the Clippers did, and for the first time in a while, it looked like they were enjoying themselves.
Harden Dials In, Collins Steps Up
James Harden added 21 points and 10 assists - his most complete performance in recent memory - and also knocked down four threes. He looked comfortable orchestrating the offense, especially in the second half when the Lakers made a brief push.
Brook Lopez gave the Clippers a lift off the bench with three more triples, but it was John Collins who really stepped into the spotlight after Ivica Zubac exited early with a left ankle injury.
Collins, who has bounced around the league in recent years, made the most of his minutes with 17 points and 12 rebounds on 7-of-10 shooting. He even stepped out to hit two threes, showing just how valuable his versatility can be when the Clippers are short-handed in the frontcourt.
Zubac scored five points before heading to the locker room in the first quarter and did not return. Head coach Tyronn Lue acknowledged that the team had to adjust on the fly.
“We didn’t close the game the right way,” Lue said. “Once Zu went down, we played a brand of basketball we weren’t good at.”
But Collins helped steady the ship, and the Clippers found just enough rhythm to keep the Lakers at bay.
Lakers Ice Cold from Three, Doncic Exits Early
For the Lakers, this one was tough from the jump - and it only got tougher as the night went on.
Marcus Smart went 0-for-9 from deep and finished with just five points. Luka Doncic, the NBA’s leading scorer, never found his rhythm and didn’t return after halftime due to a lower leg contusion. He had 12 points in 19 minutes but missed his first six shots and never looked comfortable.
That’s a massive blow for a Lakers team that was already without Austin Reaves (left calf), Deandre Ayton (left elbow), and Rui Hachimura (sore groin). With Doncic sidelined and the supporting cast struggling, LeBron James did what he could - and then some.
The 40-year-old (he turns 41 on December 30) poured in a season-high 36 points and was the only consistent offensive threat for the purple and gold. But even he couldn’t overcome the team’s dismal shooting night or the absence of his co-star.
Clippers Close It Out, Look to Build Momentum
The Lakers did make a late push, briefly trimming the deficit to seven in the fourth quarter thanks to a wild six-point possession. But the Clippers slammed the door shut with back-to-back threes from Collins and Harden that effectively iced the game.
It was the kind of response this team has been missing - poised, confident, and timely.
Now, the Lakers head to Phoenix on Tuesday to wrap up an eight-game road trip that’s tested their depth and durability. The Clippers, meanwhile, will stay home and host the Houston Rockets, hoping Saturday night’s win can serve as a turning point.
For a team that’s been searching for answers, beating the Lakers at home - and doing it with authority - might just be the start of something.