LOS ANGELES — They had hardly played together.

But on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers’ star trio flexed their respective strengths to help hold off the surging Clippers, 125-122. Twenty-two of the Lakers’ first 26 points to begin the game came courtesy of Luka Doncic, LeBron James or Austin Reaves, who were playing just their 11th game together this season thanks to a rare moment of full health for the team coming out of the All-Star break. Then Doncic provided one last flurry to help secure the win.

Doncic finished with 38 points, 11 assists and six rebounds on 11-for-25 shooting (8 for 14 from 3-point range), while Reaves played second fiddle with 29 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field. James added 13 points and 11 assists, his fifth straight game with at least 10 assists, matching Magic Johnson as the only other player in franchise history with at least four such streaks.

“When we’re sharing the ball and we’re moving the ball and we have 25-plus assists in the game, we’re a pretty good team,” James said.

Reaves echoed his teammate.

“The quality of shots was high. So we had high confidence that it’s going to go in whoever’s shooting it,” he said. “But yeah, I just thought the ball was moving and we were moving their defense. I think 11 assists for (Doncic and James) was major.”

The Lakers, who won for the fifth time in their past seven games, wasted no time getting their prolific offensive performance started.

Doncic missed a layup to begin the game – as the Clippers scored the game’s first five points thanks to a hook shot and an and-one from center Brook Lopez – but over the next 18 looks from the field, the Lakers made 16 shots, half of which came from 3-point range. James and Reaves funneled in seven points apiece, while Doncic heated up with a 3-pointer over Clippers guards Kris Dunn and Jordan Miller on a double-team attempt, an alley-oop pass to Jaxson Hayes, and a step-back 3-pointer to cap a three-possession clinic.

“We made some shots, but I thought the extra passes and the execution and the way we got to spacing and early offense and just sharing the basketball,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “It was clutter-free, ego-free.”

The Lakers (34-21) led 41-30 after one quarter and Doncic, who had missed the four games before the All-Star break with a mild hamstring strain, had 17 points, including a 4-for-5 showing from behind the arc.

“Chemistry is going to grow and grow,” Doncic said of his on-the-court relationship with James and Reaves.

Kawhi Leonard – who scored 23 points in the Clippers’ 115-114 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night – had 31 on 11-of-19 shooting Friday before missing the final 5:10 with left ankle soreness for the Clippers (27-29), who missed a chance to get back to .500 after their 6-21 start to the season.

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said Leonard’s ankle “got stiff on him,” forcing his removal from the game.

“I’m absolutely proud of our guys,” Lopez said. “If we go out there like that on a nightly basis, regardless of who’s on the floor, we’re gonna be in a good position.”

Clippers guard Bennedict Mathurin – acquired in the trade deadline deal that sent center Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers – filled up the stat sheet for the second straight night. After matching his career-high with 38 points against Denver, Mathurin had 26 points and seven rebounds against the Lakers before fouling out with 1:49 to play.

Holding a 118-115 lead, Reaves successfully drew a charge against Mathurin, leading Lue to challenge the play to attempt to reverse the sixth foul and bring his guard to the free-throw line instead. Officials deemed Reaves remained set in defensive position and Mathurin watched the remainder of the game from the bench.

“I thought the charge was the play of the game,” Redick said.

Leonard, who had just one basket in the first quarter, answered the Lakers’ strong start with a 19-point second quarter.

The Clippers trailed 72-65 at the break and found themselves down by 16 in the third quarter, but Mathurin scored nine points in the third, sparking a 17-1 run as the visitors erased their deficit and kept the game close the rest of the way.

Mathurin forced his way to the free-throw line often, where he made 11 of 14 shots. Following a 9-0 run, catalyzed by Leonard, Mathurin drove straight at Doncic – landing a floater and drawing a foul.

“Down the stretch, they were running plays for him, and drawing fouls,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said pregame of Mathurin’s effort against the Nuggets. “He’s a really skilled and talented offensive player.”

The Clippers’ new arrival converted the free throw, and helped the Clippers cling to a one-point lead. With 1:50 left in the third quarter, Mathurin drove at Rui Hachimura – drawing another foul and draining a nearly identical shot to creep back to within two points of the Lakers after Doncic replenished a lead with his sixth 3-pointer.

The teams traded clutch 3-pointers from Lakers guard Marcus Smart and Lopez in the fourth quarter, and the Clippers led 109-107 with 6:11 remaining after a 3-pointer from Leonard before Doncic provided a closing flurry. He scored 12 points in the fourth and snapped a 109-all tie with a 3-pointer with 5:11 left to give the Lakers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. That was part of a 7-0 run which gave the Lakers a 114-109 lead with 4:34 remaining.

“You want to go game-by-game,” Doncic said of the final 28-game stretch, “but it was important to start with a win.”

Even with Leonard off the court nursing his ankle and Mathurin having fouled out, the Clippers fought until the final buzzer. Derrick Jones Jr. scored on consecutive possessions to trim the Lakers’ lead to 123-120 with 46 seconds left. Doncic made two free throws with 21.2 seconds left to give the Lakers a five-point lead.

With a 125-122 lead and the ball in the closing seconds, James threw a cross-court pass intended for Doncic that Nicolas Batum stole, but Batum missed a potential tying 3-pointer and James grabbed the rebound to secure the win.

“We had a chance to tie it up with a shot at the end,” Lue said. “That’s who we are. So if teams are going to play against us, they’re going to be in for a dog fight every night.”

With 18.6 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Clippers forward John Collins hit his head on the court after Hayes impacted his route to the rim. Collins held a towel to his face as he bled above his left eye, appearing unsteady as a trainer and Lopez helped him to the bench. Lue said after the game that Collins, who received six stitches to close the wound, was still being evaluated for his head injury. … The Lakers shot a sizzling 66.7% from the field in the first half and finished at 51.8% overall with 31 assists on their 44 field goals. They shot 54.8% from 3-point range (17 for 31).

JJ on the offense:

“It was clutter-free, ego-free. We just played. I thought the process was really good.” pic.twitter.com/6Dhax7sdVT

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 21, 2026

“When we’re sharing the ball, moving the ball, and when we have 25+ assists in a game, we are a pretty good team.”

LeBron James (13 PTS, 11 AST, 3 REB) discusses playing through multiple injuries, the difference-makers in tonight’s win, and getting more reps in with Luka and AR. pic.twitter.com/Su5tMQt1DH

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 21, 2026

Luka Dončić (38 PTS, 11 AST, 6 REB, 3 STL) speaks with the media following the 125-122 victory over the Clippers. pic.twitter.com/bpFNkeEmuB

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 21, 2026

“It’s good to be back completely and have fun on the court with the guys.”

Austin Reaves (29 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST) caught up with @LakersReporter following the #Lakers thrilling victory over the Clippers, 125-122! pic.twitter.com/EcVfmHNJC9

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) February 21, 2026