On November 2, LeBron James scored 35 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers recovered from a 19-point deficit to beаt the visiting Los Angeles Clippers 130-125 in overtime Wednesday.
The Lakers moved to 3-0 at home with 27 points and 10 rebounds from Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell. In the NBA bubble in Orlando, the Lakers beаt the Clippers for the first time since July 2020.
Kawhi Leonard scored 38 points and Paul George added 20 of his 35 in the fourth quarter as the Clippers lost on James Harden’s trade day. Russell Westbrook had 24 points and 11 rebounds against his former team.
The Clippers acquired Harden and P.J. Tucker from the Philadelphia 76ers. Tucker made his Clippers debut Wednesday, gathering five rebounds in 21 scoreless minutes. Harden is scheduled to make his Clippers debut Monday against the Knicks on the road.
On the second night of a back-to-back, the Clippers were outscored 82-64 after halftime.
George scored eight baskets in the final 57 seconds to tie the score 117-all for the Clippers after the Lakers led 115-109 with less than a minute left in regulation. At the buzzer, Russell missed a game-winning 3-pointer.
George fouled out with 4:31 left in OT with the Clippers leading 119-117. James’ alley-oop dunk off Austin Reaves’ assist gave the Lakers a 124-119 lead with 2:12 left after a 7-0 run.
Reaves’ two free throws and Christian Wood’s putback dunk with nine seconds left brought the Clippers within 126-125 following Leonard’s 3-pointer with 59 seconds left in OT.
The Clippers tied the franchise record with 11 first-half thefts. They only scored 12 throughout the encounter.
This is the teams’ final season series as co-tenants of their downtown Los Angeles venue. Inglewood, California will host the Clippers’ new arena next season.