NBA: Luka Doncic joins elite company on 26th birthday as Lakers edge Clippers

Luka Doncic etched his name further into the annals of NBA history on his 26th birthday, scoring 31 points to cross the 12,200-career-point threshold and move into striking distance of Kobe Bryant atop the all-time scoring list among players who have not yet turned 26. His milestone night helped propel the Los Angeles Lakers to a hard-fought 106-102 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.

Doncic, sixth all-time on the pre-26 scoring list at 12,205 points, is behind only some of all-time greats, such as Bryant (12,215) and LeBron James, who owns the record with 16,081. With each bucket, Doncic keeps proving why he's one of the highest-scoring young players in NBA history.

And tonight, his influence was most apparent when it counted the most. After struggling early with his shot, Doncic scored 10 points in the fourth quarter, including consecutive three-pointers that extended the Lakers' lead to 10 points. His playmaking, too, came through in big moments, scoring a critical layup on James and assisting on a game-sealing dunk for Jaxson Hayes in the final minutes.

James, who had 28 points and 13 rebounds, rounded out Doncic's effort as the Lakers won despite a thin bench. Without two starters, Rui Hachimura (knee strain) and Austin Reaves (calf soreness), the Lakers managed to keep their win streak alive at five games and secure their 11th win in the past 13 games.

The Clippers, who had not played in Los Angeles since mid-February, struggled to get in sync, having 18 turnovers. Ivica Zubac put on a game-high 27 points and 16 rebounds, and Kawhi Leonard contributed 21. James Harden's subpar shooting performance—5-for-22 from the field, 1-for-10 beyond the arc—cost him.

Doncic's monster game not only lifted the Lakers to another close victory but also cemented his position as one of the all-time greats of the NBA. With a second-round rematch with the Clippers waiting on Sunday, he'll get another opportunity to make history.