- The Lakers dominated the LA derby, defeating the Clippers 122-97
- LeBron James led the Lakers with 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists
- Luka Dončić did not play but watched the game from the sidelines
- Boston defeated Cleveland 112-105 in a key Eastern Conference match-up
- Cleveland lost its top record in the NBA, overtaken by Oklahoma City
Key Takeaways:
The Los Angeles Lakers claimed city bragging rights with a convincing 122-97 victory over the Clippers, after leading for most of the time in last night’s game. Luka Dončić, who recently joined the Lakers, did not play as he continues to recover from an injury. However, he was present courtside, watching alongside LeBron James. The four-time MVP played a key role in the Lakers’ win, finishing with 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists. Norman Powell was the top scorer for the Clippers with 20 points.
LeBron 🤝 Luka
📸: Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images pic.twitter.com/cElDWydkGK
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 5, 2025
The Lakers extended their winning streak to three games, improving to 29-19 and moving up to fifth place in the Western Conference. The Clippers, now at 28-22, dropped to sixth.
In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics secured a 112-105 road victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, building a 20-point lead at one point. Jayson Tatum contributed 22 points and 7 assists for the Celtics, while Donovan Mitchell had 31 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland.
With the loss, the Cavaliers are no longer the team with the best record in the NBA, as Oklahoma City surpassed them. Cleveland now sits at 40-10, while Boston improved to 36-15.