LA Clippers hold off Lakers at the Intuit Dome in key matchup with Leonard back- Jan 2026
Clippers Overcome Lakers, 112–104
At the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, the LA Clippers (20–24) snapped some of their own early season struggles with a big win over their crosstown rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers (26–17) on January 22, 2026. It was a physical, emotional affair — and a statement with Kawhi Leonard back in the lineup after missing three games with a knee contusion.
Final Score
- Clippers: 112
- Lakers: 104
Star Performances & Key Stats
LA Clippers
- Kawhi Leonard – 24 pts (9-19 FG, 3-7 3PT), returned from injury on a minute restriction (~25 min), led the team in scoring.
- Ivica Zubac – 18 pts, 19 rebounds — absolute board control inside.
- James Harden – 18 pts, 10 assists (despite several turnovers).
- John Collins – 13 pts (including a late key three).
- Jordan Miller – 14 pts.
Team Splits:
- FG: 47.6% (40/84)
- 3PT: 38.7% (12/31)
- Rebounds: 55–43 advantage
- Free Throws: 95.2% (20/21)
- Turnovers: 18 (Clippers)
LA Lakers
- Luka Dončić – Monster night: 32 pts, 11 reb, 8 ast (booed throughout by the Clipper crowd).
- LeBron James – 23 pts.
- Lakers as a team shot 45.5% FG, 33.3% 3PT, 72.2% FT.
Game Flow & Key Moments
First Half — Clippers Jump Out
The Clippers took control early, using strong defense and balanced scoring to build a lead. A Zubac dunk helped push the advantage to 79–53 midway through the third — as much as a 26-point lead.
Third Quarter — Lakers Rally
The Lakers, struggling defensively early, began to claw back late in the third with a 19–7 run to close that period and build momentum heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter — Tension & Turnovers
Dončić, despite the crowd reaction and boos, hit a fadeaway 3 to make it 93–91 with under six minutes left — trimming the margin to just two.
At this critical point:
- James Harden hit a massive 3 to stop the Lakers’ surge.
- Zubac followed with two free throws, and Collins added a late three to seal the game.
The Lakers threatened again with a fast-break dunk and a three-point play, but the Clippers responded each time to protect the win.
Crowd & Atmosphere
Lakers star Luka Dončić was booed throughout by Clippers fans — especially during his strong performance — adding an electric edge to the rivalry atmosphere.
What This Means
For the Clippers
- Big confidence boost — win over a direct West foe.
- Kawhi’s return adds leadership and scoring punch even on a minute limit.
- Continued strong stretch — part of a 14-3 run since late December.
For the Lakers
- Still competitive late but defensive woes and second-half lapses cost them.
- Dončić showed elite production, but the supporting cast couldn’t entirely stay in rhythm.
- This loss dropped them to roughly .500 nearby in games.
Notes & Narrative Threads
- Clippers dominated rebounding and efficiency, especially from the line and in transition.
- Lakers’ defense, particularly early, left them with too much ground to make up.
- The Clippers got sloppy and have to clean up turnovers especially vs better teams
- The Clippers executed well in late-game isolation and in spacing for key 3s from Harden and Collins.