Lakers nip Clippers to end skid; Mavs repel Timberwolves

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers snapped their four-game NBA losing streak on Sunday (Monday, Manila time), clawing out a 106-103 victory in a cross-town tussle with the LA Clippers — one of the hottest teams in the league.

LeBron James scored 25 points, Anthony Davis added 22 and 10 rebounds and the Lakers got a big lift from their reserves, including 13 points from D'Angelo Russell.

The Lakers seized the first double-digit lead of the contest on Russell's 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter.

The Clippers, taking advantage of a spate of Lakers turnovers, pulled level on three free throws from Norman Powell with 2:19 remaining.

Taurean Prince drained a 3-pointer to put the Lakers back up for good, Powell missing a potential game-tying 3-pointer in the final second.

Paul George and Ivica Zubac scored 22 points apiece for the Clippers, who were riding a five-game winning streak and came into the contest with the best record in the league since December 1.

"We still slipped in some detail things," James said. "If we could continue to get better with our details we could be a really good team.

"Tonight was a good step in the right direction."

Elsewhere, Kyrie Irving scored 35 points and Luka Doncic added 34 as the Dallas Mavericks thwarted a Minnesota rally to beat the Western Conference leading Timberwolves 115-108.

The Timberwolves, owners of the second-best record in the league, trailed by nine going into the fourth quarter but took a 106-100 lead on an Anthony Edwards basket with 3:53 to play.

Mavs coach Jason Kidd called being down by six "a great test of character and trust" and Dallas passed it with flying colors.

The Mavs responded with a 13-0 scoring run. Irving drained a 3-pointer to tie it at 106-106, then poked the ball away from Rudy Gobert for a steal and delivered another 3-pointer from the corner and the Mavs held on for the win.

"I was just letting him cook," Doncic said of Irving. "When he stays aggressive he's an amazing player."

Other tight finishes included overtime victories for Portland and Orlando, and Cleveland's 117-115 victory over San Antonio.

There were blowout wins for the New Orleans Pelicans and the Toronto Raptors, who took