The Los Angeles Lakers leaned on a vintage performance from LeBron James to snap their 4-game losing streak, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 131-122 on Saturday night. James poured in a season-high 40 points on 13-of-23 shooting along with 8 rebounds and 3 assists to will the struggling Lakers to their first win since December 11th.
LeBron Takes Over in 3rd Quarter Comeback
The Lakers trailed 66-59 at halftime but came alive in the 3rd behind James’ 14 points in the quarter. He scored 10 straight points during one stretch to give the Lakers their first lead since the opening minutes. James received plenty of support from Anthony Davis, who had 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting to go along with 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks.
Lakers Build Big Lead Before Holding On
Up 103-92 heading into the 4th quarter, the Lakers extended their lead to as many as 17 points before the Thunder made things interesting down the stretch. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led OKC with 31 points and 11 assists, and the Thunder closed within 6 points with 30 seconds left. But Russell Westbrook iced the game with 4 clutch free throws to seal it.
What This Win Means for the Lakers
At 13-18, the Lakers are still struggling heading into the holidays. But this win over the talented young Thunder squad should provide some momentum. James showed he still has the ability to dominate games, while Davis looked spry on both ends of the court. Newcomer Rui Hachimura also impressed in his Lakers debut with 12 points, helping fill the team’s gaping hole at power forward.
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakers | 29 | 30 | 44 | 28 | 131 |
| Thunder | 32 | 34 | 26 | 30 | 122 |
The Lakers now hit the road for 5 straight games before returning home on January 2nd. With James and Davis healthy alongside an improving supporting cast, they will look to build on this performance and make a push back towards .500 in the wide open West. But inconsistency has plagued this team all year, and Head Coach Darvin Ham will need his stars to sustain their high level of play if the Lakers are to emerge from the crowded playoff pack.
Key Takeaways
- LeBron James showed he still has high-level dominance left in the tank with a vintage 40-point performance
- Anthony Davis had his best game since returning from injury with 30 points, 8 rebounds and strong defense
- New trade acquisition Rui Hachimura fit seamlessly into LA’s starting lineup with an efficient 12 points
- Turnovers were minimized and Russell Westbrook made winning plays down the stretch
- At 13-18, LA still has a lot of work to do just to make the play-in tournament in the tough Western Conference
This hard-fought victory over the scrappy Thunder is a step in the right direction for the underperforming Lakers. But consistency and health will be the key factors in determining whether LeBron can carry this aging roster back to the postseason.
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