Thunder Go On Huge Run For Another Blowout of Lakers

That 118-78 embarrassment was the Lakers’ worst loss to the Oklahoma City/Seattle franchise.

“The great teams are able to bring it every night, no matter who they are playing against”, Chris Paul said.

The game was evened out through the majority of the fourth quarter, with an onslaught of back and forth throughout. When Los Angeles is in town, Lakers fans come in, assume control of the Pepsi Center and keep the party rolling if their team is winning. On Tuesday, he scored 31 points against Denver to turn back the clock but he is already on borrowed time.

“It’s a privilege man”, Kevin Durant said of playing on Christmas. “Defensively, we were locked in”. “We had a tough time with them in that series”.

“Because I knew how hard I worked. They just blistered us”. Over the last five games, Kobe is averaging 25 points per game on 50% shooting, 35% from three, with five rebounds and five assists per game.

Going through differing luck so far this season, the Thunder are gearing up for another good run in their campaign while the Lakers are clearly struggling and going through a low phase in their decorated history. That surge turned an early 15-point deficit into a three-point lead, but it proved to be fool’s gold for the Lakers. By then, Oklahoma City held a commanding 79-48 advantage.

“Barton was tearing us up in the first half”, Lakers coach Byron Scott said. Their intensity was at a different level. “We have a very banged-up team right now.”… But Westbrook? The UCLA alum and Los Angeles native could be looking to strike out on his own, so that seems more believable.

Bryant also performed a pump fake that caused Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook to make contact to draw a three-point play. However, the Thunder closed on a 14-2 spurt for a 57-46 cushion at the break.

He’s a Los Angeles Laker now, and that in itself has been a pinch-me-worthy few months. Overall, they finished with a 76-32 advantage. Kenneth Faried also had a notable performance, scoring 14 points and notching 9 boards.

The Lakers may have kept Steven Adams in check but the same couldn’t be said for his Oklahoma City team-mates as the Thunder powered to another big win over Los Angeles in the National Basketball Association.

Kobe Bryant attempted 22 shots, but he hit just under a third of those.

That’s an understatement, according to Scott. He was running the floor, getting blocks, rebounds, assists.

The Lakers played without reserve guard Nick Young (gastroenteritis) and forward Julius Randle (ankle).

The Thunder defense was pivotal for their victory.

Andrew Bogut added 10 points and 13 rebounds while Draymond Green had 15 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists for the Warriors (27-1) in their final tuneup before an NBA Finals rematch against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers today. Only twice had the opposition reached the 100-point mark…. The Lakers will not be contending for one last title of his era, with their abysmal total of five wins this term meaning their long-time star will sign off in April rather than June.

The game might have been one-sided, but the post-game show of respect went both ways.