By Rodolfo Dacleson II

PHOTO: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP 

In the Battle for Los Angeles, it was the Clippers that captured the W. 

The Clippers dropped a 23-point bomb in the third frame to hand fellow LA squad Lakers with a lopsided 132-111 beating to sweep their four-game regular season series, Friday (Manila time). 

A smooth sailing Clippers' offense stormed the misfiring Lakers—who were limited to just 18 points in the third quarter—as the Lob City erected their biggest lead of the game, 104-78, in the 38.4-second mark with Zubac splitting his pair of charities. 

Luck never swung to the Lakers' way even in the final period as the Clippers maintained their huge lead until the buzzer sounded. 

Aside from the active five-game winning streak, the Clippers are also 34-31 now, placing eighth in the Western Conference and seven wins ahead of the ninth running Lakers (27-35). 

The three-point shooting sparked the difference between the teams as the Ty Lue-mentored squad hit 63 percent of their shots from beyond the arc, converting 17 of 27 attempts to keep the visitors at bay.

Lue and company established a 17-point cushion in the second period, 66-49, with 4:10 to go, but Frank Vogel’s troops responded as the Lakers held the Clippers scoreless in the remaining minutes and used a 14-0 blitz to end the first half down by three. 

Yet, that will be the last time the Lakers came within striking distance. 

It was all Clippers’ show in the second half with their 106-81 lead, entering the final canto, a high mountain the Lakers couldn’t climb.

Reggie Jackson registered a season-high 36 points built on four triples while dishing nine assists and grabbing eight rebounds to help the Clippers swept their city rivals once again since the 2015-2016 NBA season. 

Center Ivica Zubac supported by picking 19 markers and nine rebounds to extend their winning streak over the Lakers to seven as the Clippers also tripped the latter three times last season.

Meanwhile, Lebron James led the way for the purple and gold shirts with 26 points and eight rebounds but the 17-time NBA champion fell to their fourth straight defeat and seventh in the last eight contests. 

Russel Westbrook tallied 17 markers and Carmelo Anthony had 13 off the bench as the Lakers missed the service of All-Star center Anthony Davis who suffered a right foot sprain. 

The Lakers’ next assignment will be the also struggling Golden State Warriors at home on Saturday (Sunday, Manila time) while the Clippers host the visiting New York Knicks on Sunday (Monday, Manila time).

TIP-INS:

Bam Adebayo chipped in 30 points and 11 rebounds, Tyler Herro contributed 27 markers and eight assists, and the Miami Heat overcame Brooklyn Nets, 113-107, after trailing by 16 in the first half en route to spoiling Kevin Durant's 31-point performance in his return after missing 21 games due to sprained MCL in the left knee.  

Luka Doncic came one assist shy of a triple-double as he registered a game-high 41 points, 10 rebounds, and nine dimes, yet it was enough as Dallas Mavericks sent the Golden State Warriors to its seventh loss in the last 10 games, 122-113.

Saddiq Beh sealed Detroit Pistons' 108-106 victory against the Toronto Raptors off his clutch basket in the last 15 seconds to finish the game with 23 points, as Jeremy Grant added 26 points and Cade Cunningham contributed 22 markers and 12 rebounds. 

De Aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes delivered 26 apiece to pace the Sacramento Kings' 115-112 squeaker at the expense of San Antonio Spurs' gallant stand that rose from a deep 19-point hole in the third, with Loonie Walker scoring 30 and Dejounte Murray tallying 29 points and 12 rebounds in a losing effort. 

Ja Morant finished with 38 points while Jayson Tatum sank 37 markers, yet it was the latter's Boston Celtics that emerged victorious by trampling Memphis Grizzlies, 120-107.

Trae Young registered 39 points by firing seven triples to banner the Atlanta Hawks in toppling Chicago Bulls for the first time in four meetings this season, 130-124, and extending its losing skid to three games.