The Los Angeles Lakers (19-7) visit the Los Angeles Clippers (6-21) on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 10:30 p.m. ET at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, aiming to extend their two-game win streak and secure a 2-0 season series lead. Powered by Luka Doncic and LeBron James, the fourth-place Lakers face a Clippers team mired in a five-game losing skid and second-to-last in the West.
Broadcast on NBA TV and FanDuel Sports Network SoCal, with streaming available via DIRECTV or FuboTV (free trials offered), the game underscores the teams' divergent paths. The Lakers are 7-3 in their last 10 despite missing Austin Reaves (calf), with possible absences for Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura. Doncic delivered a 45-point triple-double (45 points, 14 assists, 11 rebounds) and James added 28 points and 11 assists in Thursday's 143-135 win over the Utah Jazz.
The Clippers, tied with the Sacramento Kings at 6-21, have lost 10 of their last 11 and hold a 3-8 home record. They fell 122-101 to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, led by Kawhi Leonard's 22 points; James Harden (bruised calf), the team's leading scorer amid trade rumors, is available. In their prior meeting nearly a month ago during NBA Cup group play at Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers won 135-118, with Doncic scoring 43 points and James adding 25.
Lakers are favored by 1.5 points (moneyline -120), though models are mixed. The intracity battle could feature celebrity Lakers fans like Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube, heightening the La La Land atmosphere.
