LA Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers Preview and Predictions

The Clippers and Lakers meet for the fourth time this season on Friday night in Los Angeles.

Mar. 2, 2026 at 7:31am

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The LA Clippers (27-28) and Los Angeles Lakers (33-21) will face off for the fourth time this season on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Clippers have won two of the three matchups so far, but the Lakers are favored by 7.5 points coming off a win over the Mavericks before the All-Star break.

Why it matters

This is a key divisional matchup between two of the top teams in the Western Conference. The Lakers are looking to gain ground in the standings, while the Clippers are hoping to keep pace in the playoff race.

The details

The Clippers are coming off a narrow 115-114 win over the Nuggets on Thursday, their first game in eight days. Kawhi Leonard led the way with 23 points. The Lakers are coming off a 124-104 win over the Mavericks on Feb. 11, with LeBron James scoring 28 points. The Lakers are 4-2 against the spread in their last 6 games.

  • The game tips off at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, February 20, 2026.
  • The Clippers won the most recent matchup between these teams, 112-104, on January 22, 2026.

The players

Kawhi Leonard

The Clippers' star forward scored a team-high 23 points in their last game.

LeBron James

The Lakers' veteran forward led the way with 28 points in their last game.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for a tough battle against the Clippers. They've had our number this season, but we're confident we can get the job done at home.”

— LeBron James

What’s next

The winner of this game will gain an advantage in the season series and potentially improve their position in the Western Conference standings.

The takeaway

This matchup between the Clippers and Lakers features two of the top teams in the West, with the Lakers looking to even the season series and the Clippers hoping to continue their recent success against their crosstown rivals.