In the aftermath of the Los Angeles Lakers' 135-118 victory over the LA Clippers in an NBA Cup game, Clippers guard James Harden commented on Lakers star Luka Doncic's performance. Harden acknowledged Doncic's shooting volume while reflecting on his team's struggles. The win improved the Lakers to 13-4, dropping the Clippers to 5-13.
The Los Angeles Lakers secured a decisive 135-118 win against the LA Clippers in a recent NBA Cup matchup, highlighted by strong performances from key players. Lakers guard Luka Doncic led the way with 43 points on 14-of-28 field goal shooting, including 7-of-12 from three-point range, and 8-of-11 from the free-throw line. He also recorded 13 assists, nine rebounds, one block, and one steal.
Clippers All-Star James Harden delivered a solid outing, though reports vary on his exact stats: one account notes 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting (2-of-5 from deep) with six assists and six rebounds, while another cites 29 points on 9-of-21 shooting (3-of-12 from three) with nine assists and five rebounds. Lakers guard Austin Reaves contributed 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting (2-of-4 from three) and 7-of-7 from the line, adding nine rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
Post-game, Harden addressed Doncic's 3-point success, saying, “Great player. You get enough attempts, you’re gonna make some of them.” He noted Doncic's season-long 33.3 percent shooting on 11.1 three-point attempts per game.
Harden also opened up about the Clippers' challenging 5-13 start, stating, “Very. Very. But I’m a firm believer — I work my butt off every single day. Not only for myself, but for my teammates. I’ve got more than enough faith in the front office, the coaching staff, and the players to put everything together. I haven’t been in a losing situation before, but I haven’t been in a situation where it literally feels like everything is going against us. So this is gonna be a test to show our character and what we can do later in the season.”
The Clippers continue to deal with injuries, including Kawhi Leonard missing nine games and Bradley Beal sidelined for the year with a fractured hip. Their roster features veteran players such as 40-year-old Chris Paul, 37-year-old Brook Lopez, 36-year-old Nicolas Batum, and 32-year-old Bogdan Bogdanovic.