Luka Doncic and Lakers hold off Clippers as Kawhi Leonard exits late

For just the 11th time in 55 games this season, the Lakers had Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves sharing the court together.

They are the core of the Lakers (34-21), the engines that drive this team forward, but health problems have prevented them from playing too much together. In their first game since the All-Star break, Doncic, Reaves and James lifted the Lakers to a 125-122 victory over the Clippers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena.

Doncic had 38 points, 11 assists, six rebounds and some trash talk with Clippers defensive end Kris Dunn.

Reaves did his part with 29 points on efficient nine-of-15 shooting. He also pulled down six rebounds and a key defensive play late in the game.

And James had 13 points and 11 assists, his fifth straight game with 10 or more assists. He was also playing with left knee pain and a migraine.

Lakers guard Austin Reaves celebrates after fouling Clippers guard Bennedict Mathurin in the fourth quarter.

(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

They got help from Marcus Smart, who scored all seven of his fourth-quarter points and played his typical defense, and Deandre Ayton, who had 13 points, seven rebounds and a lob from James that he threw for a dunk over Clippers center Brook Lopez late in the fourth quarter.

But this game was all about Doncic, Reaves and James trying to create some chemistry this late in the season.

“I think it’s good. I hear this question every day. So I always answer the same way,” Doncic said. “You know, obviously we haven’t played together a lot, but the chemistry is going to grow and grow.”

The Clippers continued to chip away at the Lakers’ lead late in the game despite Kawhi Leonard leaving with 5:10 left due to left ankle soreness.

Although Leonard came away with 31 points on 11 of 19 shooting, four of six from three-point range and five of five from his free throws, the Clippers did not back down.

But in what Lakers coach JJ Redick called the play of the game with 1:49 left and the Lakers leading 118-115, Reaves shot Bennedict Mathurin. It was Mathurin’s sixth foul and it sent him to the bench with 26 points.

“Marcus did a good job. He stabbed the ball. I think Mathurin kind of got off balance and I saw an opportunity to make a game-winning play,” Reaves said. “I actually don’t mind taking charges because I can’t jump and block a shot, so my only chance is to take charges”

Still, the Lakers didn’t pull away until Doncic made two free throws with 21.2 seconds left to give the Lakers a five-point lead that was barely holding.

With a lead of 125-122 and the ball in the last seconds, James throws a dangerous cross pass intended for Doncic which Nicolas Batum steals. But Batum missed a potential three-pointer and James grabbed the rebound to secure the victory.

James then explained how his knee felt after Thursday’s practice.

“I mean, it happened in practice yesterday during our scrimmage,” James said. “I went up for a dunk, went down pretty good, but a few minutes into the scrimmage it started to get a little sore, I started to get a little tight and yeah, that’s what happened.”

James still played 33 minutes. His time on the court allowed James, Doncic and Reaves to develop much-needed chemistry.

“I mean, every game, every second, every minute that we’re on the field together, it helps,” James said. “Like I said, when was All-Star weekend? We don’t know what we’re going to be until we’re fully healthy and tonight was one of the first games where JJ and the coaching staff can look down and know that everyone was available. So, we just have to keep pushing. We have to keep pushing. We have a tough team coming into Sunday (against the Celtics). Obviously, a lifetime NBA rivalry, so we have to be ready for them. They’re playing great basketball too.”

Doncic played just five minutes for Team World in Sunday’s All-Star Game and had missed the previous four games before the break because of his hamstring issue.

But he played 37:53 against the Clippers.

“It wasn’t bad,” Reaves said of his hamstring. “I received treatment after the match. But I felt good.”

Late in the fourth quarter, after Doncic scored on Dunn and was fouled by the Clippers guard, Doncic glared.

“Um, obviously we have history before,” Doncic said of Dunn. “So, I think it was another part of the game. So, I think maybe it’s because of that.”

Doncic was asked how he stays focused when players talk trash to him.

“Just, I always answer,” Doncic said. “I just try to score the best and win the game.”