Whenever the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers go head-to-head, it is quite a show, especially now that the Clippers are no longer the NBA’s joke team. However, the Lakers and LeBron James have not fared well in these battles over the last three years. Their last victory against the Clippers was on July 30, 2020, which means it has been precisely three years and three months since their upcoming game on Wednesday night.
After the remarkable occasion, the Clippers have maintained an impressive performance against the Lakers, winning eleven consecutive home games against them. The trend seemed to continue as of Wednesday evening, with the Clippers taking a commanding lead in the early stages of the game, owing to Kawhi Leonard’s exceptional first-half performance, reminiscent of thrilling previous encounters.
LeBron James came to the rescue of the Lakers and put an end to their losing streak against the Clippers. The team had been struggling for 11 consecutive games against their in-city rivals, but James’ impressive performance helped secure a 130-125 victory in overtime. He scored 35 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and dished out seven assists. This win marks the first time the Lakers have beaten the Clippers in over three years. In addition, according to Farbod Esnaashari of SI’s Fan Nation, it was James’ first win against his former coach Tyronn Lue since he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
When the Lakers faced off against the Clippers, they had to rely on their whole team, including LeBron James, to put in a massive effort to turn the game around. Their incredible performances were unforgettable, especially D’Angelo Russell who scored 27 points and kept the Lakers in the lead, and Cam Reddish who stepped up in place of the injured Taurean Prince and played an outstanding defensive game.
Despite holding an eight-point lead in the final minutes of the game, the team eventually gave in to a strong comeback from Paul George and the Clippers, leading to an overtime. The Clippers lacked the necessary power to keep up, especially with fouls committed by George and Norman Powell in the second night of a back-to-back. Nonetheless, the Lakers fans are happy with the victory achieved in the game.