The Los Angeles Clippers' win against the cross-town rival Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday was a triumphant victory that snapped a five-game losing streak and was a much-needed boost to morale for a Clippers team that has been deeply struggling this season. 

Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 32 points while James Harden followed with 21. 

The ups and downs of this season for the Clippers has been hard to fully track, even as their record fell further down the league's standings, but despite their lack of success on paper, the talent and winning-potential that Los Angeles has has always shown up, just not long enough for the team to close out several potential wins. 

That wasn't the case on Saturday and now with a fresh win under their belts Los Angeles has some positive tape to look back on 

"The results didn't show up but I think these last five, six games we've been playing well. Just haven't put it together for fourth quarters," Harden said. "So tonight was a good, kind of just to get the monkey off our back. Now we just figure out, watch film and figure out ways to get better.... and change the momentum. And things have already changed for us."

The biggest struggle the Clippers have faced this season have been injuries. They lost Bradley Beal, the biggest offseason acquisition the Clippers made who was supposed to fully round out the Los Angeles offense, is already out for the season with a hip fracture. 

Leonard missed significant time in November with a sprained ankle and foot injury and even Harden, who has been the Clippers' most consistent contributor, has had to miss a game here and there. 

Now the Clippers have suffered a new injury loss that is sure to put a bittersweet fog over their win against the Lakers. 

Ivica Zubac left the game in the first half after just 11 minutes on the court with a left ankle injury. It's now been confirmed that Zubac will miss several weeks due to a grade two ankle sprain, per a report by Shams Charania, depriving the Clippers of yet another member of their starting five, who hadn't missed a game all season before the injury. 

"The injury aspect of it all year long is something that we've been dealing with which it's a huge part of the game," Harden said. "For us, it's just trying to focus on the guys that are in the lineups, limiting the mistakes and trying to play the best ball."