Even amidst numerous challenging defeats and persistent injuries throughout the season, the Los Angeles Lakers underscored a crucial reality on Monday: They possess the capability to triumph over the NBA’s top contenders. Despite the Oklahoma City Thunder arriving at Crypto.com Arena boasting the Western Conference’s best record, they departed with a sobering 116-104 defeat.
The Lakers relied on their defense to secure a victory against Oklahoma City during a challenging stretch of their schedule. Despite facing a tough opponent, they limited the Thunder to 39% shooting and effectively neutralized NBA MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
During the morning shoot-around, the Lakers coaching staff emphasized the importance of defensive principles to the players: halt ball movement, avoid risky plays, defend without fouling, and secure defensive rebounds. The team executed these strategies well against the Thunder, holding Gilgeous-Alexander to 20 points on 5-of-13 shooting, and restricting Jalin Williams to just seven points on 2-of-9 shooting.
Coach Darvin Ham praised the Lakers’ defensive performance, particularly highlighting their nearly flawless first half where they held Oklahoma City to 30.6% shooting and secured a 52-43 lead. Despite committing 12 turnovers leading to 14 Thunder points, the Lakers maintained control.
The Lakers extended their lead to 89-72 by the end of the third quarter, largely due to their suffocating defense, which had been inconsistent throughout the season. D’Angelo Russell’s consecutive three-pointers in the fourth quarter solidified the Lakers’ dominance, leading to a 24-point advantage.
Russell expressed his satisfaction with his performance, crediting his teammates for finding him when he was “hot” and emphasizing the importance of stretching the floor with his shooting.
In terms of playoff implications, the Lakers’ 3-1 record against the Thunder and their progress in the standings were notable. They closed the gap to two games behind sixth-place Phoenix, which would secure them an automatic playoff bid in the top six of the Western Conference.
Anthony Davis contributed 24 points and 12 rebounds, helping the Lakers win the battle in the paint with a 48-36 advantage over Oklahoma City. LeBron James added 19 points to the Lakers’ offensive effort.
The team faces a challenging schedule ahead, including home games against Sacramento, Milwaukee, and Minnesota on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday respectively.
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