Clippers End Skid with Victory Over Depleted Lakers

The LA Clippers snapped their five-game losing streak with a 103-88 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at the Intuit Dome on December 20, 2025. The Lakers were severely depleted, missing key players including Luka Doncic, who exited the game with a left leg contusion before halftime, finishing with just 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting.

The Lakers were also without starters Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton, and Rui Hachimura, which significantly impacted their performance. LeBron James scored a team-high 36 points for the Lakers, but the team struggled with shooting, hitting only 15.8% from three-point range.

In contrast, the Clippers were led by Kawhi Leonard, who scored a season-high 32 points, and James Harden, who added 21 points and 10 assists. The Clippers took a commanding lead early, going up by as many as 22 points and maintaining control throughout the game.

Coach Tyronn Lue emphasized the importance of this win, stating they need to focus on finishing the season strong. Despite the Lakers' effort to rally in the fourth quarter, including a 12-point run from James, the Clippers held on to secure their first home win since Halloween.

The loss brought the Lakers to 19-8, while the Clippers improved to 7-21, aiming to build off this much-needed win.