Luka Doncic scores 38 and the Lakers hold off the Clippers 125-122 to split LA rivals' season series

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic had 38 points and 11 assists, Austin Reaves added 29 points and the Los Angeles Lakers held off the Los Angeles Clippers down the stretch for a 125-122 victory Friday night.

LeBron James had 13 points and 11 assists for the Lakers in their return from the All-Star break. They blew a 15-point lead in the second half, but Doncic scored 12 points in the fourth quarter as the Lakers split the four-game season series with their crosstown rivals.

Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points before missing the final 5:10 with an apparent ankle injury for the Clippers (27-29), who fell just short of getting back to .500 in incredible fashion after their 6-21 start to the season.

Bennedict Mathurin had 26 points and seven rebounds in his second straight outstanding game for his new team before fouling out with 1:49 to play. The athletic guard acquired from Indiana for center Ivica Zubac dropped a career-high-tying 38 against Denver on Thursday.

Derrick Jones Jr. scored on consecutive possessions to trim the Lakers' lead to 123-120 with 46 seconds left. Nicolas Batum then stole James' pass in the final seconds, but the Frenchman missed a tying 3-point attempt with 4 seconds left.

Doncic, James and Reaves were able to play together for only the 11th time in the Lakers’ 55 games this season, thanks to a rare moment of full health for the Lakers coming out of the break. They responded with a prolific offensive performance, even while James managed just two points in the second half.

In Doncic’s return from a four-game absence followed by a five-minute All-Star Game appearance due to a mildly strained hamstring, the Slovenian superstar scored 17 points with four 3-pointers in a dynamic first quarter for the Lakers, who made 16 of 17 shots in one stretch.

Leonard, who had just one bucket in the first, answered with a 19-point second.

The Clippers' John Collins was helped off the court with 18 seconds left in the first half after he bloodied his face on a hard landing while trying to catch a long pass at the rim.

Clippers: Host Orlando on Sunday.

Lakers: Host Boston on Sunday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James shoots during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) drives against Los Angeles Clippers center Yanic Konan Niederhauser during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves looks to shoot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts after scoring as Los Angeles Lakers forward Jake LaRavia (12) watches during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic gestures after scoring a 3-point basket against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 32 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in 29 1/2 minutes and the Denver Nuggets routed the Portland Trail Blazers 157-103 on Friday night for the most points on the road in franchise history and the most in an NBA game this season.

Jamal Murray added 25 points a night after missing the third of three free throws with 0.9 seconds left in a 115-114 loss to the Clippers in Los Angeles. Julian Strawther and Tim Hardaway Jr. each had 19 points.

Denver led 82-53 at the half, going 13 for 22 from the 3-point range. The Nuggets pushed the lead to 55 in the second half.

Jrue Holiday led Portland with 19 points. Deni Avdija had 15 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds, but also had six turnovers.

Jokic scored 19 points in the first quarter and had 24 at the half. He was 10 of 15 from the field, making 3 of 4 3-pointers. Denver finished 21 of 41 on 3s.

Matisse Thybulle, out since Oct. 29, and Kris Murray, out since Jan. 5, returned to Portland's lineup. Thybulle had five points and three steals, and Murray had a point and a rebound.

Nuggets: Host Golden State on Sunday.

Trail Blazers: At Phoenix on Sunday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther (3) goes for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) drives to the basket past Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) drives to the basket as Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) tries to block a shot by Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić (15) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)