Betting
Los Angeles Lakers vs Los Angeles Clippers Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
Date: Saturday 20th December 2025 Start time: 7:30 pm local time (3:30 am BST) Venue: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, Los Angeles Last regular season meeting: November 25, 2025, Los Angeles Lakers 135-118 Los Angeles Clippers The Los Angeles Clippers host their local rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, for an exciting, festive game of basketball in the lead-up to Christmas.
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LeBron James and Luka Doncic//Getty Images
The Los Angeles Clippers host their local rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, for an exciting, festive game of basketball in the lead-up to Christmas. The Clippers are seeded 14th in the Western Conference, whereas the Lakers are fifth and contesting the playoffs. Which Los Angeles-based team will prevail in Inglewood?
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Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
Los Angeles Lakers: 11/10 (2.10) – 47.6%
Los Angeles Clippers: 10/11 (1.91) – 52.4%
Forecast odds – Betting available on bet365 closer to event
Head-to-Head Record
This fierce rivalry has seen a total of 244 regular-season matches, dating back to 1970. The history of this matchup has seen total domination from the Los Angeles Lakers, who have won 157 games compared to the Los Angeles Clippers winning on only 87 occasions.
In recent times, we’ve researched that the Lakers have won the previous four fixtures, showing their dominance over the last two seasons. The last time the Clippers prevailed was on January 19th, 2025.
Last Five Matches
| Season | Date | Result |
| 2025/26 Season | November 25, 2025 | Los Angeles Lakers 135-118 Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2024/25 Season | March 2, 2025 | Los Angeles Lakers 108-102 Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2024/25 Season | February 28, 2025 | Los Angeles Lakers 106-102 Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2024/25 Season | February 4, 2025 | Los Angeles Lakers 122-97 Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2024/25 Season | January 9, 2025 | Los Angeles Clippers 116-102 Los Angeles Lakers |
Los Angeles Clippers Current Form
- Record: 6-19
- Home Form: 3-7
- Road Form: 3-12
It’s safe to say that the Los Angeles Clippers have struggled this season, boasting a poor 6-19 record after the first 25 games.
The franchise has won only three games, both home and away, showcasing that they are unlikely to be competitive this year. At the time of writing, the Clippers are on a winless three-game streak to add insult to injury.
Seasoned veteran James Harden is playing some of his best stuff this campaign, averaging a remarkable 26.6 points per game. These numbers are the highest since the 2020/21 season, adding incredible value to the scoring game. In addition, he’s placed fifth in the NBA in assists, averaging 8.2 per game, further proving how integral he is in the starting five.
Next up is the only player to represent the Clippers in every game thus far, Ivica Zubac. The 28-year-old center is averaging 16.6 points per game, which is almost on par with its best-ever numbers.
Once again, he is one of the best rebounders in the league, posting 11.4 per game, ranking him third overall in the NBA.
Injury Report
- Bradley Beal – Out (season-ending left hip injury)
- Derrick Jones Jr. – Out (knee)
- Nicolas Batum – Day-to-day (illness)
- James Harden – Day-to-day (left calf contusion)
Los Angeles Lakers Current Form
- Record: 17-7
- Home Form: 7-4
- Road Form: 10-3
The Los Angeles Lakers have one of the most impressive rosters in the league, with impressive talent on both sides of the court. Their season sees them fifth in the West, and they are in the mix with the second seed, the Denver Nuggets. They have one of the best away records in the league, too, winning 10 of their 13 matchups away from the iconic Staples Center.
Unquestionably, the Lakers’ best player this season is Luka Doncic. The 26-year-old is producing the best numbers of his career, producing a truly remarkable 25 points per game. Unsurprisingly, this places him as the best in the world. In addition to his impressive scoring, he’s averaging 9 rebounds and assists per game too, firmly placing him as one of the best in the world on both sides of the court.
Although he missed the start of the season due to injury, LeBron James is slowly getting started this season. Although he’s averaging 16.5 points, 7.6 assists, and 6 rebounds, it’s important to remember he’s turning 41 years old in the coming weeks, showing what a truly remarkable stat line this is.
Injury Report
- Austin Reaves – Out (mild left calf strain)
- Maxi Kleber – Out (back)
Predicted Line-Ups
Our projected starting five from both rosters ahead of this encounter.
Los Angeles Clippers
- Guard – James Harden
- Guard – Kris Dunn
- Center – Ivica Zubac
- Forward – Kawhi Leonard
- Forward – John Collins
Los Angeles Lakers
- Guard – Luka Doncic
- Guard – Marcus Smart
- Center – Deandre Ayton
- Forward – LeBron James
- Forward – Rui Hachimura
Value Bets
Here are my suggested bets if you want to wager on the best US betting sites.
James Harden: Over 25 Points and Over 10 Assists
Historically, James Harden has always delivered the goods against the Los Angeles Lakers. But in recent times, his scoring hasn’t been quite as prevalent, averaging 20.1 points per game.
But based on his numbers and output this year, we fancy him to score over 25 points this game because of the rivalry between both organizations.
Luka Doncic: Over 30 Points and Over 5 Rebounds, and Over 5 Assists
This would be considered a safer bet because Luka Doncic always produces the goods against the Los Angeles Clippers. His numbers of 32.8 points, 8 rebounds, and 7.7 assists make him a formidable opponent for anyone.
My expert betting prediction is that he will average over 30 points, 5 rebounds, and assists, numbers that will likely be exceeded.
Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers to win
We conclude this preview by predicting the Los Angeles Lakers to win this matchup. The Lakers are our favored pick because they have a stronger all-around roster within their starting five, featuring two generational talents in the form of Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
The four-game winning streak of the Lakers significantly helps us form our conclusion, believing they will extend their run further.
Henry Cheal is a versatile freelance sports journalist with extensive experience in the industry. Henry has previously worked at the 2024 World Snooker Championship and earned a Multimedia Sports Journalism degree from UCFB in 2023.