Doncic, Reeves, and LeBron Power Lakers Past Clippers in NBA Cup Thriller

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The NBA delivered a limited but explosive slate of games last night, highlighted by an intense city rivalry and a massive upset that underscored the early-season struggles of a former title contender.

Los Angeles Lakers 135, Los Angeles Clippers 118

The night’s premier contest was the first cross-town battle of the season, and the Los Angeles Lakers put on a scoring clinic, routing the Clippers and securing their spot in the in-season NBA Cup tournament.

The game was dominated by a colossal performance from Luka Dončić, who matched his season-high with 43 points, complementing it with 13 assists and nine rebounds, narrowly missing a triple-double. Dončić came out firing, knocking down his first five three-point attempts and scoring 20 points in the first eight minutes alone, sparking an intense back-and-forth early in the game that saw him directing clear trash talk toward the Clippers’ bench.

LeBron James, playing just his third game of the season, looked much closer to his old self, adding 25 points as the Lakers systematically pulled away in the second half. This victory marked the Lakers’ fifth consecutive win and their 11th in the last 13 games. The contest grew chippy late in the fourth quarter when Clippers guard Kris Dunn was ejected after fouling Dončić from behind, leading to a brief on-court scuffle. Despite James Harden‘s 29 points and nine assists for the Clippers, the team’s struggles continued, marking their 11th loss in their last 13 games.

Austin Reeves would not be denied as well going for 31 points on 11-16 shooting, and he added nine rebounds to go along with three steals

Portland Trail Blazers 115, Milwaukee Bucks 103

In the biggest surprise of the evening, the short-handed Portland Trail Blazers traveled to Milwaukee and defeated the struggling Bucks, extending Milwaukee’s losing streak to five consecutive games.

The Blazers were led by a season-high 35 points from veteran forward Jerami Grant. Portland built an 18-0 run spanning the third and fourth quarters that put the game out of reach, eventually leading by as much as 33 points. The loss only intensified the scrutiny on the Bucks, who played without superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo (left adductor strain) for the third straight contest. Deni Avdija added 22 points for the Blazers, who won despite missing key players, including Jrue Holiday, Scoot Henderson, and Shaedon Sharpe.

Orlando Magic 144, Philadelphia 76ers 103

In a massive Eastern Conference blowout, the Orlando Magic thoroughly dominated the Philadelphia 76ers, winning by a stunning 41-point margin. The Magic put up their highest point total of the season, fueled by an efficient offensive night that featured 80 points in the paint and 38 total assists. While the Sixers were missing key players, including Joel Embiid, the sheer defensive and offensive dominance displayed by the Magic—who had nine players score in double figures—showed their growing strength in the Eastern Conference.

Anthony Black shot lights out off the bench, going 12-17 from the field, including 4-6 from three-point range for a total of 31 points in 28 minutes. In all, nine Magic players were in double-digits.