LOS ANGELES (AFP) — The Los Angeles Lakers snapped their four-game National Basketball Association losing streak on Sunday, clawing out a 106-103 victory in a cross-town tussle with the LA Clippers — one of the hottest teams in the league.
LeBron James scored 25 points, Anthony Davis added 22 and 10 rebounds and the Lakers got a big lift from their reserves, including 13 points from D'Angelo Russell.
The Lakers seized the first double-digit lead of the contest on Russell's three-pointer early in the fourth quarter.
The Clippers, taking advantage of a spate of Lakers turnovers, pulled level on three free throws from Norman Powell with 2:19 remaining.
Taurean Prince drained a three-pointer to put the Lakers back up for good, Powell missing a potential game-tying three-pointer in the final second.
Paul George and Ivica Zubac scored 22 points apiece for the Clippers, who were riding a five-game winning streak and came into the contest with the best record in the league since 1 December.
"We still slipped in some detail things," James said.
"If we could continue to get better with our details we could be a really good team.
"Tonight was a good step in the right direction."
Elsewhere, Kyrie Irving scored 35 points and Luka Doncic added 34 as the Dallas Mavericks thwarted a Minnesota rally to beat the Western Conference leading Timberwolves, 115-108.