The Clippers finally got the skid to stop-and they did it in style, taking down their hallway rivals at Crypto.com Arena. Behind a vintage performance from Kawhi Leonard and a strong all-around effort from James Harden, the LA Clippers snapped a five-game losing streak with a 103-88 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night.
This one wasn’t just a win-it felt like a reset button. The Clippers, who’ve struggled to find rhythm in the early part of the season, looked more connected, more purposeful, and more like the team many expected when this roster was assembled.
Kawhi Leonard Leads the Charge
Let’s start with the man who set the tone: Kawhi Leonard. The two-time Finals MVP put together a commanding 32-point, 12-rebound performance, showing once again why, when healthy, he remains one of the most dominant two-way forces in the league.
He was efficient, aggressive, and locked in on both ends of the floor. Whether it was hitting mid-range jumpers in rhythm or crashing the glass, Leonard played with the kind of urgency that said, “Enough is enough.”
James Harden: The Floor General Returns
James Harden, back in the lineup after missing a game, looked every bit the orchestrator the Clippers need him to be. He finished with 21 points and 10 assists-his sixth double-double of the season-and played the kind of controlled, deliberate basketball that allows the Clippers’ offense to breathe.
Harden didn’t force the issue. He picked his spots, set the pace, and made the right reads consistently.
And while the matchup featured two of the top-10 scorers in NBA history, Harden wasn’t interested in entertaining any comparisons to the man on the other side of the court.
“Don’t even say LeBron in this conversation,” Harden said with a laugh postgame. “LeBron is… Nobody’s - when we talk about that record - nobody’s ever catching that.”
He’s not wrong. LeBron James finished the night with 36 points on 15-of-28 shooting-another efficient outing in a career full of them. That brings his career regular season total to 42,406 points, a staggering number that puts him more than 14,000 points ahead of Harden, who recently moved past Carmelo Anthony into 10th all-time.
John Collins Shows Up Big
Saturday also marked a breakthrough performance for John Collins, who delivered his first double-double as a Clipper. The big man chipped in 17 points and 12 rebounds, bringing some much-needed interior presence against a Lakers team that struggled to find consistent offense outside of LeBron.
Collins’ energy was noticeable. He battled for boards, finished around the rim, and gave the Clippers a physical edge in the paint that they’ve been lacking at times this season. If this is a sign of things to come, his impact could be a game-changer for LA moving forward.
Lakers Lean Too Heavily on LeBron
For the Lakers, this game was another reminder of just how much weight LeBron is still carrying. At 38, he remains their most reliable offensive option-and on Saturday, he was practically their only one.
No other Laker made more than three field goals or shot better than 50 percent from the floor. That’s not a recipe for success, especially against a Clippers team that finally brought defensive intensity and rebounding effort to the table.
Looking at the Bigger Picture
Harden has now played in 26 of the Clippers’ first 28 games, averaging 25.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and 1.3 steals per contest. He’s shooting 43.3 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from deep-solid numbers that reflect a player still finding his balance in a new system, but clearly trending in the right direction.
LeBron, meanwhile, is averaging 20.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 7.1 assists through 11 games this season, shooting 48 percent from the field but just 28.3 percent from three. While the efficiency inside the arc remains strong, the Lakers are still searching for consistent perimeter threats to take pressure off their aging superstar.
The Takeaway
This wasn’t just a win-it was a statement. The Clippers showed they can lock in defensively, get balanced production, and lean on their stars to close out games. For a team that’s been under the microscope since Harden’s arrival, this was the kind of performance that can shift the narrative.
Now the challenge is consistency. The pieces are there.
The talent is undeniable. And if Saturday night is any indication, the Clippers might finally be finding their groove.