In the Los Angeles derby, Luka Doncic on his 26th birthday led the Lakers to beat the Clippers.
Luka Doncic swiftly made his mark on his 26th birthday, adding a new spark to the Lakers-Clippers rivalry.
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Luka Doncic bags triple-double as Lakers beat Mavericks
In a clash against his former team, Luka Doncic was the hero for the Lakers with a triple-double against the Mavericks.
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The Slovenian star scored 31 points in his debut game against the Los Angeles Clippers, helping the Lakers win 106-102 in a close game.
It was the team's fifth consecutive victory and fifth consecutive over their city rivals.
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Luka leads Lakers to victory on 26th birthday
Doncic, who was a member of the Dallas Mavericks and engaged in numerous postseason skirmishes with the Clippers, persisted in torturing them in purple and gold.
He finished with 31 points, one point less than his Lakers career high, on 9 of 22 shooting five assists, and three steals.
The Clippers' renowned defense, which started the game rated second in the NBA in defensive rating, was unable to handle his playmaking and shot creation.
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The Lakers' victory brought them up to 37-21 and put them in the running for the second seed in the Western Conference, alongside the Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets.
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The club has now won 15 of their previous 18 games, continuing their winning streak and moving up the standings.
Doncic stole centre stage, but LeBron James, who finished with 28 points and 13 rebounds, was once again at the top of his game.
Austin Reaves, who has thrived as the Lakers' third scoring option since Doncic's arrival, left the game early due to right calf pain, so the triumph wasn't without its setbacks.