Overview
- Los Angeles fell 135-118 to the Lakers in NBA Cup group play at Crypto.com Arena, with Luka Dončić scoring 43 points, LeBron James 25 and Austin Reaves 31 including 18 in the fourth.
- The defeat left the Clippers at 5-13 with 11 losses in their last 13 games, dropping them near the bottom of the Western Conference.
- Returning from a 10-game absence, Leonard had 19 points in 28 minutes and clarified his 'more talent' remark as a call for current players to perform better and trust the offense.
- Leonard said the defense must force elite scorers to move the ball; the Clippers have already allowed at least 16 threes in nine games, reflecting systemic issues in transition and on the perimeter.
- Head coach Tyronn Lue pushed back on the 'next man up' notion given the talent gap, as season-ending hip surgery for Bradley Beal and questions about roster fit, age and the John Collins trade intensify pressure on the front office.