Lakers Game Preview: Game 43 @ Clippers
Another battle for LA, plus a John Collins deep dive
The Lakers will technically play at least one game at home during their eight-game road trip. This second game of the trip is officially an away matchup at the Intuit Dome, but staying in Los Angeles makes it feel different. Being a cross-town rivalry only adds to that, making this already the third meeting between the two teams this season.
The prior two matchups could not have been more different. In the first meeting, Luka Dončić was the Clippers assassin we have seen many times before, dominating with 43 points, 13 assists, nine rebounds, one steal, and one block. In the rematch, he struggled early, and then things deteriorated quickly. An injury scare led to him missing the second half with a leg contusion. That game marked one of the low points of the season, the start of a three-game losing streak that ended with a demoralizing Christmas loss and the injury to Austin Reaves.
Two key headlines going into this game are whether the Lakers can extend their streak of two strong performances to three, and whether Kawhi Leonard, listed as questionable, becomes the latest player to return from injury against the Lakers.
As with the previous game, I decided to mix up the preview format as the trade deadline approaches. Clippers forward John Collins, who is in the final year of his five-year contract, is the player I chose to take a closer look at for this matchup.
Lakers (26-16) @ Clippers (19-24) game facts
Rest: LAL on 1 day of rest; LAC on 1 day of rest
Ranking: LAL 16th in Point Diff (-0.2), LAC 22nd in Point Diff (-2.3)
LAL vs LAC 2025-26 record: 1-1 (see Game 17 observations here; see Game 27 observations here)
LAL injuries: Austin Reaves (OUT), Adou Thiero (OUT)
LAC injuries: Bradley Beal (OUT), Bogdan Bogdanović (OUT), Derrick Jones Jr. (OUT), Chris Paul (OUT), Kawhi Leonard (questionable)
LAL projected starting five: Luka Dončić (G), Marcus Smart (G), Jake LaRavia (F), LeBron James (F), Deandre Ayton (C)
LAL key reserves: Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Jaxson Hayes, Jarred Vanderbilt, Maxi Kleber, Drew Timme
LAC projected starting five: James Harden (G), Kris Dunn (G), Kawhi Leonard (F), John Collins (F), Ivica Zubac (C)
LAC key reserves: Kobe Sanders, Jordan Miller, Nicolas Batum, Cam Christie, Yanic Konan Niederhauser
LAC rotation:
