The Clippers won the derby in Los Angeles against the Lakers with 111-110 (50-54). Luka Doncic, meanwhile, will participate in the NBA All-Star Game again this year.
With the narrow win against the Lakers, the Clippers pushed their city rivals out of eighth place in the Western Conference standings. The Lakers had to do without their injured superstar LeBron James for the fifth game in a row.
In a thrilling final period, there were six lead changes in the last 63 seconds alone. After Anthony Davis (30 points, 15 rebounds) gave the Lakers a 110-109 lead with 12 seconds left, Reggie Jackson (25 points) scored the game-winning layup for the Clippers, with Isaiah Hartenstein recording six points. “It’s a tough loss because they’re past us now,” Davis said after the game. “We have to find a way now.”
There were thoroughly surprising victories for the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors: the Hawks beat the Western Conference’s top team, the Phoenix Suns, 124-115 (64-61). Trae Young excelled with 43 points. The Raptors beat the currently best team in the Eastern Conference, the Chicago Bulls, 127-120 (54-50) after overtime. With Fred van Vleet, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby and Scottie Barnes four players of the Raptors scored more than 20 points.
Doncic back at All-Star contest
Luka Doncic, meanwhile, will participate in the All-Star Game again this year. The NBA announced that Doncic has been selected by the league’s head coaches to the squad for the show game. It will be Doncic’s third consecutive All-Star appearance.
After fans, journalists and players determined the two starting lineups from the Eastern and Western Conferences for the NBA All-Star game, coaches selected the seven reserves from each conference. James Harden also made it: For the guard of the Brooklyn Nets it is the tenth participation in a row. Chris Paul of the Phoenix Suns will participate in the All-Star Game for the twelfth time in his career.
The two superstars James and Kevin Durant will determine on 10 February from all the All-Stars selected the two teams that will face each other on 20 February in Cleveland.
