Luka Dončić scores 38 points as Lakers beat Clippers 125-122 to improve to 34-21

Luka Dončić scored 38 points with 11 assists and six rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the LA Clippers 125-122, improving to 34-21 on the season.

Dončić scored 12 of his points in the fourth quarter, including 10 in the final three minutes, to seal the win. Austin Reaves added 29 points in his return to the starting lineup, giving the Lakers two 25-plus scorers for the game.

LeBron James finished with 13 points and 11 assists, extending his streak of consecutive games with double-digit assists to five. The victory gave the Lakers five wins in their last seven games heading into the final stretch before the postseason. The Dončić-Reaves pairing drew significant attention following the performance.

Dončić, Reaves and James combine for 80 points and 22 assists against Clippers

The Lakers’ three primary contributors accounted for 80 of the team’s 125 points and 22 assists between them. Dončić’s ability to create in isolation and in pick-and-roll sets forced the Clippers into defensive rotations that opened looks for Reaves and the rest of the lineup.

James’ 11 assists on a night where his shooting was below his average demonstrated the playmaking dimension he provides even when his scoring output is limited. The Lakers’ offensive structure allows all three players to function as primary or secondary creators depending on matchups.

Lakers’ three-point shooting climbed to 37% over 19 games before All-Star break

The Lakers rank 21st in the NBA in three-point percentage at 35% for the full season, but their recent trajectory suggests improvement. Over the 19 games leading into the All-Star break, they shot 37% from beyond the arc, which ranked seventh in the league during that stretch.

That improvement has particular relevance for the postseason, where catch-and-shoot efficiency typically determines how well an offense translates against tighter defensive schemes. If the Lakers sustain the 37% rate rather than regressing toward their season-long average, their offensive ceiling rises significantly alongside the scoring volume that Dončić, Reaves, and James already provide.

Lakers at 34-21 with Celtics matchup next on home schedule

At 34-21, the Lakers hold a firm position in the Western Conference playoff picture with two games remaining on their current homestand. The next game is a matchup against the Boston Celtics, which will serve as a measuring-stick game against one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams.

The Lakers’ 5-2 record over their last seven games has coincided with the Dončić-Reaves starting combination producing consistently high offensive output. How that pairing performs against elite competition over the remaining schedule will determine whether the Lakers can secure a top-four seed and home-court advantage in the first round.