Luka Doncic scored 29 points with six rebounds and nine assists as the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers continued their surge into March with a 108-102 NBA victory over city rivals the Los Angeles Clippers.
LeBron James added 17 points and nine assists and rookie Dalton Knecht contributed 19 points off the bench for the Lakers, who extended their winning streak to six games while playing without injured starters Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves.
Doncic, who was acquired by the Lakers at the trade deadline, has scored at least 20 points four times in the past five games.
The Lakers won the season series 3-1 over the Clippers. The Lakers are also 16-3 since January 21.
Kawhi Leonard scored a season-high 33 points with 10 rebounds for the Clippers, who lost for the fifth time in six games.
The Lakers led by as many as 21 points in the third quarter and took an 89-77 advantage into the final period. They led 104-94 with four minutes 12 seconds remaining after two free throws from Doncic before the Clippers made a run.
A three-pointer from Leonard with 1:40 to play trimmed the Lakers' gap to 107-102, but Kris Dunn had a layup attempt blocked by James with 30.4 seconds left.
Elsewhere, the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers erased an 18-point deficit to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 133-129 in overtime.
De'Andre Hunter scored 18 of his game-high 32 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.
In Boston, the Celtics held off the Denver Nuggets 110-103, with Jaylen Brown leading the way with 22 points and eight assists.
AGENCIES
Luka Doncic, left, Clippers guard Kris Dunn chase a loose ball. REUTERS
