EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – Despite all the tough losses throughout the season, all the injuries, the Los Angeles Lakers reminded everyone on Monday of a very important truth: They can still beat the NBA’s best teams.
The Oklahoma City Thunder entered Crypto.com Arena with the best record in the Western Conference, but left with a heavy 116-104 loss.
The defense did it for the Lakers, who were going through a tough stretch of the schedule, but held Oklahoma City to 39% shooting and held out NBA MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Lakers’ coaching staff talked about the importance of defense in the team’s morning shoot-around. He implored the players to stop the ball on defense. Don’t gamble. Rescue without any mess. Get defensive rebounds.
The Lakers did pretty much all of the above against the Thunder (42-19). Gilgeous-Alexander was the league’s second-leading scorer (31.2 points per game), but he was held to 20 points on 5-13 shooting. Jalin Williams, another shining star for the Thunder, made just 2 of nine shots for seven points.
“Congratulations to our defense, our guys,” Lakers coach Darwin Ham said.
The Lakers had a nearly flawless first half on defense, holding Oklahoma City to 30.6% shooting and taking a 52-43 lead. It could have been better for the Lakers, but 12 turnovers in the first half gave the Thunder too many easy points (14).
“At halftime I told them it was the best defensive half I’ve seen all season,” Hamm said.
The Lakers extended their lead to 89-72 through three quarters thanks to a stifling defense that hasn’t been on display often this season.
D’Angelo Russell drilled back-to-back-to-back three-pointers early in the fourth quarter and the Lakers led by 24 and officially lost.
Russell was later asked if he liked having the hot hand.
“Absolutely yes,” he told Spectrum SportsNet. “It seems like that’s what I do. feels good. When I’m hot, my teammates find me. It’s easier when I spread the floor like this. That’s what shooting does. it’s my pleasure.”
Something to file in case the Lakers and Thunder meet in the playoffs: The Lakers finished 3-1 against Oklahoma City this season.
Something else that will please the ninth-place Lakers (34-29), even those who claim to ignore the standings: They pulled within two games of sixth-place Phoenix. The top six teams in the West receive automatic playoff bids while the seven to 10 teams compete in the always-risky play-in tournament.
Anthony Davis had 24 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers, who defeated Oklahoma City 48-36 in the paint.
“We understand that when the ball is bouncing and everybody is feeling comfortable, we are playing some very good basketball offensively,” said LeBron James, who scored 19 points.
The Lakers easily won the battle of the boards 55-38.
The team continues a tough stretch of the schedule with home games against Sacramento on Wednesday, against Milwaukee on Friday and Minnesota on Sunday.
