INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- — Kawhi Leonard scored 24 points — his career-high 23rd consecutive game with at least 20 — and the Los Angeles Clippers survived a tight fourth quarter to beat Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers 112-104 on Thursday night.

The Clippers have won seven of eight and 14 of 17 as they continue their upward climb from the depths of the Western Conference. Leonard, who missed a stretch when his team had nearly bottomed out in the standings, has a left knee contusion but he didn't sit for long in the fourth.

LeBron James scored 4 points and Doncic hit a 3-pointer to cap a 19-7 run that closed the Lakers within two.

James Harden answered Doncic's 3 with one of his own as the Clippers ran off 10 in a row to stay in front, 103-91.

But the Lakers weren't done yet. James hit a jumper and completed a three-point play in an 11-2 run that drew them within three.

Ivica Zubac's reverse dunk and John Collins' 3-pointer extended the Clippers' lead to eight points and they closed it out on Harden's pair of free throws.

Luka Doncic had 32 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists and James added 23 points. The Lakers fell to 5-6 in their last 11.

Harden had 18 points and 10 assists and Zubac added 18 points and 19 rebounds for the Clippers, who had seven players in double figures.

Leonard, Harden and Zubac combined to score the Clippers' first 15 points of the third, extending their lead to 26 points — largest of the game.

From there, the Lakers outscored them 19-7 to go into the fourth trailing 86-72. James opened the spurt with a 3-pointer and ended it with a huge dunk off Harden's turnover after Doncic chipped in 9 points in the quarter.

The Clippers dominated the first half, outscoring the Lakers 17-7 — including nine in a row — over the final minutes to go into halftime leading 64-47.

Doncic scored just three of his 17 first-half points in the second quarter when Leonard led the bench against Doncic and James. The Clippers shot 59% from the floor while limiting the Lakers to 42%.

The Lakers were still without Austin Reaves (calf strain), although coach JJ Redick expects him back soon.

Up next

Lakers: Visit the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday to open a six-game trip against Doncic's old team.

Clippers: Host the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Play By Play

Recent plays and game events

TIME	PLAY
12:00	Deandre Ayton vs. Ivica Zubac (Luka Doncic gains possession)	0	0
11:43	Jake LaRavia makes 23-foot three point jumper (Luka Doncic assists)	0	3
11:20	Kawhi Leonard misses driving floating jump shot	0	3
11:18	Jake LaRavia defensive rebound	0	3
11:10	Luka Doncic misses 26-foot three point pullup jump shot	0	3
11:08	Lakers offensive team rebound	0	3
11:00	Marcus Smart misses two point shot	0	3
10:58	Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound	0	3
10:53	John Collins makes running layup (James Harden assists)	2	3
10:30	Jake LaRavia makes 24-foot three point jumper (Luka Doncic assists)	2	6
10:16	Ivica Zubac makes 5-foot two point shot (James Harden assists)	4	6
10:02	LeBron James misses 10-foot fade away jump shot	4	6
10:00	Deandre Ayton offensive rebound	4	6
9:58	Marcus Smart misses 27-foot three point jumper	4	6
9:55	Clippers defensive team rebound	4	6
9:37	Ivica Zubac misses 7-foot two point shot	4	6
9:35	Deandre Ayton defensive rebound	4	6
9:30	Luka Doncic makes 9-foot driving floating jump shot	4	8
9:16	Kawhi Leonard makes 25-foot three pointer	7	8
8:59	Luka Doncic misses 26-foot three point jumper	7	8
8:56	Kawhi Leonard defensive rebound	7	8
8:48	Kawhi Leonard makes 17-foot pullup jump shot	9	8
8:36	Luka Doncic makes 14-foot driving floating jump shot	9	10
8:23	Kawhi Leonard makes 26-foot three pointer	12	10
8:07	Marcus Smart makes 3-foot layup (LeBron James assists)	12	12
7:45	James Harden bad pass turnover (LeBron James steals)	12	12
7:30	Luka Doncic misses driving floating jump shot	12	12
7:27	Ivica Zubac defensive rebound	12	12
7:22	Deandre Ayton blocks James Harden 's 3-foot running layup	12	12
7:19	Jake LaRavia defensive rebound	12	12
7:19	LeBron James out of bounds bad pass turnover	12	12
7:13	Kawhi Leonard misses 26-foot three point pullup jump shot	12	12
7:11	Luka Doncic defensive rebound	12	12
7:01	Luka Doncic makes 7-foot two point shot	12	14
6:40	Ivica Zubac makes 10-foot floating jump shot (James Harden assists)	14	14
6:26	LeBron James makes 13-foot pullup jump shot	14	16
6:17	Clippers Full timeout	14	16
6:17	(06:17) [Lakers] COACH'S CHALLENGE (CALL OVERTURNED) [Lakers] retain their timeout	14	16
6:17	Jordan Miller enters the game for Kris Dunn	14	16
6:17	Gabe Vincent enters the game for Deandre Ayton	14	16
6:17	Jaxson Hayes enters the game for Marcus Smart	14	16
6:17	LeBron James vs. Ivica Zubac (Jaxson Hayes gains possession)	14	16
6:17	Kobe Sanders enters the game for Kawhi Leonard	14	16
6:17	James Harden lost ball turnover (Luka Doncic steals)	14	16
5:57	Ivica Zubac shooting foul	14	16
5:57	LeBron James makes free throw 1 of 2	14	17
5:57	LeBron James makes free throw 2 of 2	14	18
5:40	Jaxson Hayes blocks James Harden 's 7-foot driving floating jump shot	14	18
5:39	Ivica Zubac offensive rebound	14	18
5:39	Ivica Zubac makes two point shot	16	18
5:24	LeBron James misses 26-foot three point jumper	16	18
5:20	John Collins defensive rebound	16	18
5:11	Ivica Zubac misses 4-foot hook shot	16	18
5:10	LeBron James defensive rebound	16	18
4:59	LeBron James misses 5-foot pullup jump shot	16	18
4:57	James Harden defensive rebound	16	18
4:48	Kobe Sanders makes 24-foot three point jumper (James Harden assists)	19	18
4:33	Luka Doncic makes 10-foot driving floating jump shot	19	20
4:19	Kobe Sanders makes 23-foot three point jumper (James Harden assists)	22	20
4:05	Luka Doncic misses driving layup	22	20
4:02	James Harden defensive rebound	22	20
3:55	Kobe Sanders bad pass turnover (Jake LaRavia steals)	22	20
3:53	Jake LaRavia bad pass turnover (Jordan Miller steals)	22	20
3:49	Jordan Miller misses 26-foot three point pullup jump shot	22	20
3:46	Ivica Zubac offensive rebound	22	20
3:46	Ivica Zubac makes two point shot	24	20
3:32	Jordan Miller shooting foul	24	20
3:32	Luka Doncic misses free throw 1 of 2	24	20
3:32	Lakers offensive team rebound	24	20
3:32	Brook Lopez enters the game for Ivica Zubac	24	20
3:32	Rui Hachimura enters the game for LeBron James	24	20
3:32	Jarred Vanderbilt enters the game for Jake LaRavia	24	20
3:32	Luka Doncic makes free throw 2 of 2	24	21
3:17	James Harden makes 26-foot three point step back jumpshot	27	21
3:05	John Collins personal foul	27	21
2:55	Luka Doncic makes 25-foot three pointer	27	24
2:35	Jordan Miller makes driving layup	29	24
2:26	Rui Hachimura misses 26-foot three point jumper	29	24
2:24	Jordan Miller defensive rebound	29	24
2:20	James Harden makes two point shot (Jordan Miller assists)	31	24
2:20	Lakers Full timeout	31	24
2:03	Luka Doncic makes 5-foot two point shot	31	26
1:43	James Harden misses 28-foot three point pullup jump shot	31	26
1:41	Luka Doncic defensive rebound	31	26
1:33	Jarred Vanderbilt misses driving layup	31	26
1:30	Brook Lopez defensive rebound	31	26
1:21	John Collins makes 2-foot alley oop dunk (James Harden assists)	33	26
1:00	Rui Hachimura misses 27-foot three point jumper	33	26
56.6	Kobe Sanders defensive rebound	33	26
48.9	Kobe Sanders makes 26-foot three point jumper (James Harden assists)	36	26
33.0	Luka Doncic misses 20-foot pullup jump shot	36	26
30.9	James Harden defensive rebound	36	26
6.5	James Harden misses 26-foot three point pullup jump shot	36	26
4.7	Rui Hachimura defensive rebound	36	26
0.0	Rui Hachimura makes 26-foot three point jumper (Luka Doncic assists)	36	29
0.0	(00:00) [Lakers] REF-INITIATED REVIEW (REPLAY SUPPORTS CALL)	36	29
0.0	End of the 1st Quarter	36	29

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Game Information

Time, Location & Referees

Venue

Intuit Dome

Inglewood, CA

Date & Time

3:00 AM, January 23, 2026

Coverage

Prime Video

Attendance

17,927

Referees

Pat Fraher, Danielle Scott, John Butler

2025-26 Pacific Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
LA Lakers	38	25	.603	W1
Phoenix	36	27	.571	W1
Golden State	32	30	.516	W1
LA Clippers	30	32	.484	L1
Sacramento	14	50	.219	L3

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Kawhi Leonard's 24 points help Clippers hold off Lakers in tight fourth quarter

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