Lakers and Clippers Prepare for One Last Regular-Season Clash

The battle for Los Angeles is about to reach its final regular-season chapter as the Lakers and Clippers meet one last time before the playoffs. This Sunday’s game isn’t just another matchup; it’s a test of where both teams stand as they push toward the postseason.

The Lakers have been on fire, winning five straight games and going 15-3 since late January. The Clippers, on the other hand, are struggling, losing four of their last five. Both teams are dealing with injuries, but that won’t stop the intensity of this long-standing rivalry.

With Luka Doncic finding his place in the Lakers’ system and LeBron James leading the charge, the Lakers have been one of the hottest teams in the league over the past month. Meanwhile, the Clippers are looking for answers, with James Harden coming off one of his worst performances of the season and the team trying to stop their recent skid.

Sunday’s matchup is more than just another regular-season game—it’s a battle for momentum, confidence, and control of the city.

Luka Doncic is Finding His Groove with the Lakers

Luka Doncic’s arrival in Los Angeles was one of the biggest trade-deadline moves of the season. It took him a few games to adjust, but he’s starting to look more and more comfortable in a Lakers uniform.

In Friday’s victory over the Clippers, Doncic put up 31 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter to help close out the game. He struggled from deep early on, hitting just one of his first six three-point attempts, but knocked down two clutch shots from beyond the arc when it mattered most.

Over his first seven games with the Lakers, Doncic has averaged 21.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game. But in his last four, those numbers have jumped to 25.6 points per game as he’s becoming more aggressive and taking control of the offense when needed.

Doncic has always been a nightmare for the Clippers. In 19 career games against them, he has averaged 32.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.3 assists. If the Clippers don’t find a way to slow him down, he could put on another dominant performance.

The Lakers are also playing without Rui Hachimura, who remains out with a knee injury. Austin Reaves left Friday’s game with a calf strain, but an MRI revealed no serious damage. He is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game, meaning the Lakers may be forced to adjust their rotation again.

Lakers coach JJ Redick believes the team has finally found its identity after an up-and-down first half of the season.

“It takes a while for a group to develop a collective mentality,” Redick said. “There have been a lot of things that have happened this season. I think our group, our ecosystem, (has) been sustained since mid-January. There were flashes of it throughout the early parts of the year, but I like who we are right now as a team.”

That stability has been reflected in the standings, where the Lakers have surged upward since January 21. They look like a legitimate playoff threat, and Sunday’s game will be another test of how far they’ve come.

Clippers Struggling to Regain Momentum

The Clippers have lost four of their last five games, marking one of their toughest stretches of the season. They’ve been inconsistent on both ends of the floor, and Friday’s loss to the Lakers was a frustrating one.

Ivica Zubac was dominant, putting up 27 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. Kawhi Leonard had a solid game as well, scoring 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting. But the rest of the team struggled, especially James Harden.

Harden had one of his worst shooting performances in recent memory, going 5-of-22 from the field and 1-of-10 from three-point range. He was even worse in the second half, making just one of his 13 shots, including an 0-of-6 mark from beyond the arc. He also committed five turnovers, two of which came in the final minutes when the game was still in reach.

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue didn’t hide his frustration after the game.

“Every possession counts, and we didn’t do a good job,” Lue said. “I think it was a two-point game when we had two turnovers in a row, which kind of helped them break the game open. So it’s just something we can learn from and just be better with.”

Harden’s late-game struggles were costly, and Kris Dunn also had a key turnover in the closing minutes, helping the Lakers secure the win.

The Clippers have also been missing Norman Powell, their leading bench scorer, for the past five games due to a knee injury. Without him, their offense has lacked firepower in key moments.

On Saturday, the team signed Jordan Miller to a four-year standard contract after he showed promise in the G League. Miller has played in 30 games for the Clippers this season, averaging 4.7 points per game, and could see more minutes as they look for help in their backcourt rotation.

The Clippers are nearing the end of an eight-game road trip, with just two more games away from home before they return to Crypto.com Arena. This stretch has tested them, and they’ll need to dig deep to avoid another loss against their in-town rivals.

Key Matchups to Watch

With both teams dealing with injuries, Sunday’s game could come down to a few crucial matchups.

• Luka Doncic vs. Clippers’ Defense
  • Can the Clippers contain him, or will he continue to dominate?
• LeBron James vs. Kawhi Leonard
  • Two superstars who have gone head-to-head for years. Who takes control this time?
• James Harden’s Response
  • After a nightmare shooting performance on Friday, will Harden bounce back?

Both teams need this win for different reasons. The Lakers want to keep building momentum, while the Clippers are desperate to stop their skid.

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What’s at Stake?

This isn’t just about the final game of the regular-season series. It’s about confidence heading into the playoffs and establishing momentum in a crowded Western Conference.

For the Lakers, a win would push their streak to six games and solidify their resurgence since January. They’ve been one of the best teams in the league over the past six weeks, and another victory over the Clippers would reinforce that.

For the Clippers, another loss would mean five defeats in their last six games, raising concerns about their ability to contend in the postseason. With injuries mounting and chemistry looking shaky, they need a win to get back on track.

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The Lakers have a 5-2 record against the Clippers over the past two seasons, showing they have the upper hand recently. But the Clippers aren’t going down without a fight.

Will Doncic and LeBron continue their dominance, or will the Clippers make a statement and turn things around? The battle for LA wraps up Sunday night, and it promises to be one of the most intense matchups of the season.