The Los Angeles Lakers won Friday’s Los Angeles derby against the Clippers (125-122), in the return of Luka Doncic to JJ Redick’s quintet, on an NBA day in which the Denver Nuggets destroyed the Portland Trail Blazers with 157 points.
Doncic, LeBron and Austin Reaves played together again at Crypto.com Arena, in a season in which they only met on the court eleven times due to a long series of physical problems.
Lakers win derby
Luka makin’ it RAIN in the first quarter 😤 pic.twitter.com/MZ5rWGnWeu
– Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 21, 2026
Doncic, who had missed the Lakers’ last four games before returning for the All-Star break, signed 38 points and eleven assists (8 three-pointers), while LeBron contributed a double-double of thirteen points and eleven assists.
LeBron, 41, notched his fifth consecutive game with at least 10 assists for the fifth time in his career and fourth with the Lakers, an accomplishment only Magic Johnson had achieved in purple and gold.
King James was in doubt until the last hours before this game due to a physical problem, but he played 33 minutes at a high level in the derby.
Reaves poured in 29 points, going four of five from the free throw line for the Lakers, fifth in the West (34-21).
For the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points and Bennedict Mathurin scored 26, but was unable to avoid defeat. After four Los Angeles derbies, the record this season is 2-2.
In Portland, the Nuggets shot 57% from the field and 51% from three-point range in a 157-103 win over the Blazers.
Nikola Jokic dominated with 32 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and four steals, supported by Jamal Murray’s 25 points, six rebounds and six assists.
OKC delivers, Cavs fly
Topić taking it coast to coast 😮💨
Your @OGandE Power Play of the Game pic.twitter.com/UWg4gT3wFc
– OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) February 21, 2026
The Thunder did not fail at home against Jordi Fernández’s Brooklyn Nets and defeated them 105-86 despite the absence of Shai Gilgeous Alexander.
Jared McCain starred in the win for the NBA champions with 21 points off the bench, on a night in which Chet Holmgren contributed 15 points and seven rebounds.
The Nets lost their third game and are in second-to-last place in the East with a 15-40 record.
If Brooklyn is experiencing a difficult season, the Cavaliers are still flying and triumphed 118-113 at the Charlotte Hornets to celebrate their seventh consecutive victory.
Donovan Mitchell came through with 32 points and Jarret Allen had a big double-double of 26 points and 15 rebounds. James Harden chipped in with 18 points.
Anthony Edwards makes 40
Anthony Edwards put on a show in the clutch tonight –
Special. 🔥🔥🔥
(via @SportsCenter)
pic.twitter.com/hjNOYrikyI https://t.co/vUFfAec0ZE
– Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) February 21, 2026
It was a big personal night for Anthony Edwards, who led with 40 points in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 122-111 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
Ant’ hit 16 of his 32 shots from the field and made five three-pointers. French center Rudy Gobert supported him with 22 points and 17 rebounds, ten of them offensive.
The Wolves are fifth in the West with a 35-22 record after winning their third consecutive victory.
The Mavs, who were without Cooper Flagg, are mired in twelfth place in the West after losing their tenth straight game.
Heat feast
JJJ 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wSNHF9VZCC
– Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) February 21, 2026
Mexico’s Jaime Jáquez Jr. added ten points to the Miami Heat’s feast as they overwhelmed the Atlanta Hawks 128-97 on the road.
The Heat returned to competition for the first time since the All-Star break and did so with a great group performance, shooting 52% from the field.
Tyler Herro led the Heat with 24 points off the bench, supported by 17 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists from Bam Adebayo and 15 points from Norman Powell.
Erik Spoelstra’s team finished with up to 7 players in double digits in scoring, including Jaquez who contributed 10 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists on 5-of-9 shooting from the field in 26 minutes.
Among the night’s other results, the Milwaukee Bucks, without Giannis Antetokounmpo, defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 139-118, with 27 points from Ryan Rollins and Cam Thomas, and 26 from Kevin Porter Jr.
Filed under: Lakers win derby
With information from EFE
