The Clippers hold on to beat the Lakers in a thriller125-118

Los Angeles Clippers #24 Norman Powell (SG) gliding to the basket for an layup. Photo by Rashad Griffin/TGsportstv1.

 LOS ANGELES, CA - With a playoff atmosphere at the Crypto.com Arena, the Los Angeles Clippers (42-38) hung on to beat the Los Angeles Lakers (41-39) in a thriller 125-118.

Norman Powell led the Clippers in scoring with 27 points, Kawhi Leonard with 25 points, and Bones Hyland and Russell Westbrook both 14 points. Leonard was focused, energized, delivered when needed, and trusted his teammates down the stretch.

"We came out with energy early," Leonard said. "We kept our foot on the pedal."

LeBron James led the Lakers with 33 points, Austin Reaves with 20 points, and D'Angelo Russell with 15 points.

It was a big win for the Clippers seeding in the Western Conference, trying to lock up a 5 or 6 seed avoiding a play-in-game, and Leonard's performance in the second half knew how important this game was and felt great after the game.

"He said he felt good," Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said of Leonard. "He knew how important this win was for us. And so he gave everything he had."

Los Angeles Lakers #6 LeBron James (SF) driving for a layup is being contested by Los Angeles Clippers #2 Kawhi Leonard (SF). Photo by Rashad Griffin/TGSportstv1.

Ivica Zubac got a lob pass from Russell Westbrook for a dunk to give the Clippers a 2-0 lead in the first quarter. Eric Gordan and Westbrook followed his shot with three-pointers to give the Clippers an 8-0 lead. The Lakers had to call a time-out trailing 15-3 after another three-point shot by Gordan.

The Clippers led 20-8 with another three-point shot. Anthony Davis's fall-away jump shot and Reaves dunk had the Lakers down 23-18.

The Lakers would take the lead 26-25 with a three-pointer by Troy Brown Jr. The Clippers would lead 34-28 with a jump shot by Kawhi Leonard. Terance Mann would make a three-pointer giving the Clippers a 37-31 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Norman Powell would make two free throws and a jump shot to give the Clippers a 41-31 lead in the second quarter. The Clippers would lead 50-36 with a dunk by Mann, forcing the Lakers to call a time-out.

Powell would increase the Clippers' lead to 58-44 with a left-handed layup. The Clippers would lead 63-46 with a jump shot by Leonard. Lebron James made two free throws that the Lakers trailing 63-50.

Los Angeles Clippers #2 Kawhi Leonard (SF) three-point shot from the right side of the court. Photo by Rashad Griffin/TGSportstv1.

Leonard's three-point shot from the right side of the key gave the Clippers a 71-52 lead at halftime.

Leonard led the Clippers in scoring in the first half with 17 points, Powell with 13 points, and Westbrook with 12 points. Russell led the Lakers with 11 points and Reaves with 10 points.

The Clippers led in the third quarter 76-52 with a three-pointer by Leonard. James would nail a three-pointer, and the Lakers now trail 77-60.

Powell made a jump shot to give the Clippers an 89-76 lead. The Lakers trailed by nine points, 89-80, after the Clippers whistled for goal-tending on James' layup. The Clippers led at the end of the third quarter 93-82.

The Clippers led in the fourth quarter 103-88 with a three-pointer by Bones Hyland. James would knock down a three-point shot to have the Lakers trailing 114-97.

Powell would drive to the basket for a layup, increasing the Clippers' lead to 120-108. D'Angelo Russell's floater in the paint would make the score 123-116 with 31 seconds left in the game.

Hyland would make two free throws for the final points, 125-118 for the Clippers, beating the Lakers 11 times straight for a franchise record.