By ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic had 43 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds, and LeBron James added 25 points in the Los Angeles Lakers’ fifth consecutive victory, 135-118, over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night, Nov. 25.
Doncic matched his season high with 32 points in the first half on the way to his 51st career 40-point game. He fell just short of his 10th career 40-point triple-double, but the Lakers clinched their group with their third straight win in NBA Cup play.
Austin Reaves had 31 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers, who have won 11 of 13 overall.
The 40-year-old James also looked more like his old self in the third game of his unprecedented 23rd NBA season, scoring 16 points in the second half while the Lakers steadily pulled away.
James Harden continued his scoring surge with 29 points and nine assists for the Clippers, who have lost 11 of 13. Kawhi Leonard scored 19 in his second game back from a 10-game injury absence.
The crosstown rivals’ first meeting of the season got chippy when Clippers guard Kris Dunn was ejected with 3:33 to play after knocking Doncic to the ground with a hit to his back. Doncic confronted Dunn, who shoved the ball into Doncic’s chest before Lakers center Jaxson Hayes shoved Dunn in the back. Dunn then swatted at Hayes, who also got a technical foul.
Doncic opened with his highest-scoring quarter of the season, making his first five 3-point attempts — after missing 17 of 22 in his previous two games — and scoring 20 points in the first eight minutes alone. He also directed a stream of trash talk and staredowns at the Clippers’ bench, continuing a semi-friendly feud with LA’s second team that predates his move to the Lakers.
Meanwhile in Philadelphia, Anthony Black scored 27 of his career-high 31 points in the first half, Franz Wagner added 21 points and the Orlando Magic routed the injury-depleted Philadelphia 76ers, 144-103, in an NBA Cup game.
Orlando’s Jalen Suggs was ejected with 27 seconds left in the first half after receiving two technicals during a heated altercation between the teams.
Tyrese Maxey scored 20 points to lead the 76ers, whose absences included Joel Embiid (right knee injury management), Paul George (right ankle sprain) and rookie VJ Edgecombe (left calf tightness).
Orlando improved to 3-0 in the Cup and the 76ers dropped to 0-3.
The game was tied at 35-all after the first quarter before the Magic took control in the second period. Philadelphia fans started showering boos on the court when Orlando went up 17 points with 5 1/2 minutes left.
The frustration spilled onto the court with 27 seconds before the break when the altercation led to Suggs’ ejection.
The Magic dominated the second quarter, outscoring Philadelphia by 26 points in the period to take an 86-60 lead at halftime.
Philadelphia’s Trendon Watford limped to the bench with just over four minutes left in the first half and did not return due to a left adductor strain.
Embiid missed his eighth game in a row and 11th this season. The seven-time All-Star and 2023 MVP began the season recovering from left knee surgery, limiting him to 20-to-25 minutes when available, but has since had issues with his right knee.
George, who signed a four-year, $212 million deal with Philadelphia prior to last season, made his season debut on Nov. 17 after offseason knee surgery. He missed the following game, played the next two before sitting out against Orlando.
For Orlando, Paolo Banchero was sidelined for his seventh consecutive contest with a left groin strain.
