Kawhi Leonard has season-high 32 points as Clippers beat Lakers 103-88 to snap 5-game skid

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Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James, center, is defended by Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, left, and guard Kobe Sanders during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac, left, gets a rebound against Los Angeles Lakers forward/guard Luka Doncic during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) — Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James, center, is defended by Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, left, and guard Kobe Sanders during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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12:11 AM on Sunday, December 21

By BETH HARRIS

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored a season-high 32 points and the slumping Los Angeles Clippers rode their 3-point shooting to a 103-88 victory over LeBron James and the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night, snapping a five-game skid.

Luka Doncic, the NBA's scoring leader, didn't return for the Lakers after halftime because of a lower leg contusion. He had 12 points and five rebounds in 19 minutes after missing his first six shots. Doncic was coming off a triple-double of 45 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists at Utah on Thursday.

James, who turns 41 on Dec. 30, led the Lakers with a season-high 36 points.

James Harden had 21 points and 10 assists for the Clippers. John Collins added 17 points and 12 rebounds.

The Clippers were 16 of 43 from 3-point range, with Leonard tying his season high with four, Harden making four and Brook Lopez hitting three off the bench. The Lakers missed 32 3-pointers, with James going 3 of 7, Doncic 1 of 6 and Marcus Smart missing all of his nine attempts.

The Clippers had lost 12 of their last 15 to fall to the bottom of the Western Conference. But they led the entire game and held off a Lakers spurt that cut their lead to seven to open the fourth.

The Lakers got that close with the help of a six-point possession. Kobe Sanders received a flagrant-1 foul on Smart's 3-point attempt. Smart made all three free throws and the Lakers got possession. James scored, got fouled and made the free throw, leaving them trailing 80-73.

The Clippers answered with back-to-back 3-pointers by Collins and Harden to go with Leonard's dunk off James' turnover. The Lakers then ran off six in a row to close to 88-79.

From there, the Clippers closed out just their seventh win of the season.

The Clippers lost Ivica Zubac to a left ankle injury after he scored five points while playing most of the first quarter.

Rui Hachimura missed his first start of the season for the Lakers with a sore groin. He’s expected to be out 3-5 days. The team hopes to get Deandre Ayton (left elbow) and Austin Reaves (left calf) back soon.

Up next

Lakers: At Phoenix on Tuesday to end an eight-game trip.

Clippers: Host former MVP Kevin Durant and Houston on Tuesday.

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