The Los Angeles Lakers faced the LA Clippers for the fourth and final time in the 2025-26 regular season, and it was another chance for Luka Doncic to play against a team he has struggled with more than any team in his career.
In their first game out of the All-Star break, the Lakers led by 14 points at the end of the first quarter, 41–27, thanks to Luka Doncic's hot shooting start. In the first 12 minutes of the game, Doncic recorded 17 points, two rebounds and four assists, while shooting 6 of 8 from the field and 4 of 5 from three.
Doncic's four assists led to a pair of three-pointers and a pair of two-pointers, meaning he accounted for 27 of the Lakers' 41 points in the opening period.
Doncic's 17-point first quarter marked the 30th time the guard recorded at least 10 points in a quarter against the Clippers. This is the 60th time that Doncic has recorded 10 or more points against the Clippers in a single quarter, including the regular season and postseason.
Tonight's first quarter was the 60th time in Luka Doncic's career that he recorded 10+ points in a quarter against the LA Clippers.
This was his 30th appearance in the regular season.
- Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 21 February 2026
The only other player to have a quarter of 10 or more points against the Clippers is Kevin Durant, with 79 points. Doncic tied Stephen Curry's 60 quarters of 10 or more points against the Clippers.
What is the difference between the three? Durant is currently in his 18th season in the NBA, Stephen Curry is in his 17th season, and Doncic is only in his eighth season. By the time it's all said and done, who knows how far up on that list Luka Doncic will be.
Additionally, Luka Doncic has the second-most points per game average of any player versus the Clippers franchise.
Doncic's 32.1 points per game average against the Milwaukee Bucks trails only Michael Jordan's 32.3 points per game. The next three highest points per game averages against a single franchise are also owned by Michael Jordan (32.0 vs. the Cavs, 32.0 vs. the Knicks, and 31.9 vs. the Knicks).
Luka Doncic is averaging 32.1 points per game against the LA Clippers.
This is the second-highest career points per game average of any player versus one franchise (regular season and postseason). pic.twitter.com/Bw2fVALr7w
- Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 21 February 2026
Entering Friday's game, Luka Doncic had played 42 games against the LA Clippers, combining both the regular season and postseason. Their record in those games is 23-19.
