Australia’s Ben Simmons and the Clippers were unable to spoil Luka Doncic’s 26th birthday party with the Lakers taking bragging rights in the all-Los Angeles derby 106-102.
Simmons played 16 minutes for two points, three assists and three rebounds, while Mills didn’t manage any court time.
New Lakers recruit Luka Doncic scored 31 points and LeBron James posted 28, along with 13 rebounds, as their side held off numerous comebacks from their cross-city rivals, to extend their winning streak to five.
Clippers began with an 8-2 run – six of them in an explosive start from Kawhi Leonard.
Despite the Lakers momentarily steadying and clawing the margin back to a single basket, the Clippers surged once again for a double-digit lead at the first time out.
Simmons entered the game with four minutes remaining in the first quarter with his side holding an eight-point lead, and ended up cleaning up a rebound after several missed shots in succession from the Lakers.
The Aussie was soon put on to defend Luka Doncic who was having a slow start to the game, making 1-5 until sinking a three from the corner. That seemed to spark the home team to life to end the quarter, cutting the margin to a single point.
Starting the second quarter, Simmons was soon drawn into giving his second personal foul on James on an unsuccessful ‘and one’ play. But the Lakers star was heating up on the scoreboard, passing double figures – while Simmons collected his first points.
By now the Lakers were cooking and it was their turn to open up an 11-point lead midway through the second quarter.
Two steals and a three-pointer from Kris Dunn kept the Clippers somewhat in touch, but Doncic was producing at the offensive end, with two buckets and an assist inside 90 seconds.
It was soon back to the LeBron show, returning to the court and effortlessly sinking a long-range two. But the Clippers rallied to finish the second half only down by five, 59-54.
The Clippers cut the margin to three early in the third quarter, helped by a controversial blocking foul called on Doncic, which was unsuccessful. Then on the back of some Laker turnovers and good rebounding, the Clippers had tied the game.
The game stepped up a gear in the dying minutes of the third as the Lakers stepped up the intensity – losing the lead and fighting to get it back – Doncic surging past 20.
This prompted several verses of “Happy Birthday to You” from the crowd, but No.77 was the one giving gifts away – picking up his fourth personal foul with just over a quarter to play.
At the same time Simmons came back for his second stint of the game, but the home side had the momentum, and the lead was back out to six by three quarter time.
James was playing a bit of cat and mouse with Simmons; after chasing down his own shot for three, he took on the Aussie one-on-one. It appeared too easy as the Laker casually stepped around his opponent and scored his 26th point of the game.
But it was never say die by the Clippers, who again cut the deficit to just a basket, assisted by Ivica Zubac, who passed his double-double with 20 points and 10 boards.
However, just as they were gaining momentum, the Lakers had a response, the birthday boy’s three putting him in game-high figures. Then it was only a matter of time until he had 30, with a celebratory basket to the vocal home crowd’s delight.
But in the end, the Lakers just wanted the win more; the hosts were more disciplined and made their shots down the stretch, closing out the four point win.
