The Oklahoma City Thunder, currently one of the NBA's standout teams, will face formidable opponents from the Western Conference.
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Challenged on a road expedition, the Oklahoma City Thunder, currently one of the NBA’s standout teams, will face formidable opponents from the Western Conference. Their inaugural stop brings a two-game trial in Los Angeles, confronting the struggling Lakers on Monday, followed by a clash with the ascending Clippers on Tuesday. The subsequent challenge awaits them on Saturday against the formidable Minnesota Timberwolves.
Having secured victory in nine of their last eleven games, the Oklahoma City Thunder notched a 112-100 win over the Orlando Magic at home on Saturday, extending their winning streak to four consecutive games.
The driving force behind their success, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, maintained his stellar performance, contributing 37 points and seven assists against the Magic. Despite missing all four of his 3-point attempts, he showcased efficiency by going 13-of-20 from the floor and sinking 11 free throws. Notably, Gilgeous-Alexander drew fouls six times while scoring, and he impressively converted all six ensuing free throws.
For the Lakers, James (ankle injury) and Vincent (knee injury) will not be playing the game. As for the Thunder, Waters will be sitting this one out due to illness.
In a balanced effort, every member of the Thunder’s starting lineup reached double figures, featuring notable contributions from Jalen Williams with 16 points and Chet Holmgren, who secured 15 points along with eight rebounds. When asked about potential strategies opponents like the Lakers could employ to disrupt Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s rhythm, Lu Dort, who chipped in with 12 points, shared insights.
The Lakers would have welcomed any defensive tactics at this point. Since clinching the NBA in-season tournament in December, Los Angeles has struggled with a 5-12 record. Just when it appeared they were gaining momentum with back-to-back victories last week, they faltered by losing games on both Thursday and Saturday.
In the away game against the Utah Jazz, the Lakers faced a 132-125 defeat on Saturday, and in the absence of LeBron James due to a left ankle injury, D’Angelo Russell took charge with an impressive 39-point performance.
Russell and Austin Reaves, who contributed 19 points, shared the backcourt starting lineup for the first time since November 8, showcasing a combined shooting accuracy of 64.7% by going 22 of 34 from the floor. Despite their notable efforts, the Lakers still fell short, marking a 2-4 record in their ongoing stretch where nine out of ten games are played at home. Notably, Saturday’s match was the sole exception, taking place outside of Los Angeles.
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