The Los Angeles rivalry reignited on Friday night, marking Luka Doncic’s first experience in the historic showdown as a Laker. After a slow start in the first half, Doncic came alive after the break, scoring 31 points to lead the Lakers to a 106-102 victory over the Clippers.

Doncic has established himself as a dominant force against the Clippers throughout his career, delivering standout performances in both the regular season and playoffs. One of his most memorable moments came in 2020 when he hit a game-winning buzzer-beater in Game 4 of their playoff series. Beyond that, he has consistently excelled against the Clippers.

Following Doncic’s latest stellar performance, Kendrick Perkins took to social media to emphasize his continued dominance over the Clippers, writing on X, “Luka still owns the Clippers.”

In the fourth quarter, Doncic took control, sinking two step-back three-pointers over Ivica Zubac to push the Lakers ahead. He also made several key plays that secured the win. LeBron James contributed significantly as well, finishing with 28 points and 13 rebounds.

The Lakers have been on a hot streak, extending their winning run to five games. They have now won eight of their last ten contests, propelling them to fourth place in the Western Conference standings.

If the Lakers maintain this level of play, they have a strong chance of climbing to the No. 2 seed before the playoffs. With only a one-game difference between them and the second-seeded Denver Nuggets, the Lakers are within striking distance with 24 games remaining.

Securing the No. 2 seed would be a major advantage, granting them home-court advantage in the first two rounds and helping them avoid a matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder until the Western Conference Finals. If Doncic and James continue their dominant performances, the Lakers could make a deep postseason run with limitless possibilities.