A variety of A-list stars attended a basketball showdown in Los Angeles on Thursday evening.
Among those present were Chris Pratt and Jason Bateman, who joined the crowd at Intuit Dome to see LeBron James and the Lakers go up against Kawhi Leonard’s Clippers.
Also spotted in the audience was Jane Fonda, along with Zooey Deschanel, who brought her boyfriend, Jonathan Scott from “Property Brothers.”
Singer Jhene Aiko had a prime courtside spot; at one moment, the Clippers mascot, Chuck the Condor, stopped by to take a photo with her.
Comedian Jimmy O. Yang, Notre Dame’s football coach Marcus Freeman, and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer were also seated close to the action, enjoying the game together.
Despite the star power in attendance rooting for the Lakers, they left feeling a bit let down as the Clippers took home a 112-104 victory.
Luka Doncic stood out as the top scorer of the matchup, racking up 32 points along with 11 rebounds and eight assists. In contrast, James scored 23 points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out six assists.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 24 points, but Ivica Zubac emerged as a key player, achieving 18 points and 19 rebounds during the game.
Interestingly, the drama off the court might have captivated fans just as much. This event marked James’ first public appearance following a revealing report about his relationship with Jeanie Buss, the Lakers’ owner.
However, he addressed the media post-game, dismissing speculations about a rift with Buss. “Honestly, I’m not concerned with articles,” he stated. “I really don’t care about the story. I’m 41, and I watch golf every day. What others think doesn’t matter to me. If you know me, you know who I am, and that’s what’s important.”
The Lakers are set to face the Mavericks in Dallas this Saturday, while the Clippers will host the Nets on Sunday.
