LeBron James Says Defense Will Determine Lakers’ Success This Season
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The Los Angeles Lakers secured a place in the Emirates NBA Cup knockout round with a 135-118 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night, Nov. 25, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena.
LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves combined for 99 points, but the four-time MVP pointed to defense as the pivotal factor in the win and the season ahead.
“In order for us to be as great as we want to be, we’ve got to defend,” James said postgame. “We know what we can do offensively, but defensively is going to be our staple, and we showcased that in the fourth.”
After conceding 66 points on 57.1 percent shooting in the first half, the Lakers limited the Clippers to 46.2 percent from the field after intermission and just 25 points on 40 percent in the fourth quarter, when Los Angeles outscored its crosstown rival by 12.
Clippers role players Kris Dunn, John Collins and Nicolas Batum did not miss a three-pointer before halftime, yet James said the Lakers stayed committed to their original plan. “If a guy’s going to make shots, it’s the NBA—we can’t get deterred,” he noted. “We had a game plan and we stuck to it for 48 minutes.”
The victory was the Lakers’ fifth straight and moved them to 13-4, tying them for the second-best record in the Western Conference. Asked about the possibility of another NBA Finals run, James said, “It’s too early. We’ve got to continue to build our habits. Getting to the Finals takes talent, but also grit and perseverance.”
The Lakers conclude group play in the Emirates NBA Cup on Friday when they host the Dallas Mavericks. Former Laker Anthony Davis, traded to Dallas in the deal that brought Doncic to Los Angeles, is aiming to return from injury for that matchup.
Source: Lakers Nation
