At the end of a two-part game, the Clippers won in Inglewood and brought down the Lakers. The locals have a 14th victory in 17 games, while the Purple and Gold are sinking a little deeper into crisis, at the end of a very uncertain game defensively.
The Lakers may well have attempted the big comeback, but they themselves will have failed. A game to forget on the defensive level for the players of the most legendary of the two franchises. First, an invisible defense, which allows the Clippers to take off without forcing their talent too much.
The good start of Kawhi Leonard (who signed his 23rd game in a row with more than 20 points last night) is doubled by the good entry of Kobe Bean, but also by the distribution of the efficient game of James Harden. Opposite, the Lakers only have Luka Doncic as their only weapon, well, that’s what the distribution of shots at the start of the match seems to mean. It is therefore without much difficulty that the gap settles in, reaching 17 units at the break.
A dynamic that will last at the start of the 3rd quarter, with 25 points now separating the two teams. However, the Lakers are making the charge. Not that they started defending, because that would be too good.
No, it’s the Clippers, undoubtedly a little faithful to the reputation of losers which surrounds the franchise, who start to do anything. Tyronn Lue performs somewhat risky rotations, and the two thieves Luka and LeBron James have a field day.
He’s CRAZY 💀pic.twitter.com/nqVFXzFNOB
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) January 23, 2026
The game is finally in a pocket handkerchief, as the poster could have made us hope. However, the Lakers will never take control. No, they certainly rely on stratospheric shots from Luka and a few nice treats here and there from the role players, but nothing to scare the Clippers who play pragmatism at the end of the match.
Above all, every time the Purple and Gold seem capable of getting ahead, they always have a crappy defense to remind us that losing is the only option. John Collins turns off the lights in the room with a string three-pointer 42 seconds from time, we’ll leave it there. 14th victory in 17 games for the Clippers who are walking on water at the moment, 6th defeat in 9 games for the Lakers still without solution.
