Thunder pummels Lakers, 120-85

“We had a tough time with them in that series”. The 37-year-old Kobe Bryant carried a heavy workload in the Lakers’ 120-85 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday at Staples Center, despite nursing a recently sore right shoulder and a physically taxing responsibility a day ago.

For an 11-game stretch from November 22-Dec.

The winning mentality that Bryant has brought to this team for the entirety of his career is starting to shine brightest on his way out. “So now you’re playing halfcourt basketball with your second unit, which you don’t want to do”. The damn cat’s not going to bark. “It makes no sense to be yelling at it”, Bryant told reporters after the Lakers suffered one of their worst losses of the season.

After a victory last night against the Nuggets, the Lakers couldn’t duplicate their success against the Thunder. Of course, Duncan doesn’t care.

The Lakers trailed by only 11 at halftime Wednesday.

Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant have been two of the greatest players of their respective generations.

In the game, the Lakers were left behind after a huge third quarter by the Thunder, where they outscored the hosts 35-15.

“Tonight, my bones just couldn’t get loose”, said Bryant, who turned 37 in August. “That’s just the honest-to-goodness truth”, he added.

OKC jumped out to a 22-10 first quarter lead before Billy Donovan made a substitution. Bryant actually laughed after securing the ball and drove for an eight-footer.

That was a long time ago, when Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal were teammates and championships were being earned.

“It was like the starting gates opened up and the horses ran out”, Bryant said.

For comparison’s sake, Durant had 21 points on seven-for-nine shooting. Among Western guards, Curry was followed by the Thunder’s Russell Westbrook and the Clippers’ Chris Paul. “That’s the type of stuff that I’ll miss – the competition That’s the fun stuff”.

The Lakers failed to match the Clippers’ intensity early in the contest, as Paul made four of his first five shots and put the visiting Clippers up by 10 points at the end of the first quarter.

There was nothing but good things to say about the better Los Angeles team through three quarters.

Kobe had his moments against Oklahoma City, as he drew fouls on pump fakes against both Durant and Russell Westbrook.

That was pretty much it. They are searching for an identity and a matchup with the Lakers is exactly what the Clippers need right now – a lowly opponent that they can absolutely dominate. Recent injuries kept the minutes for Lakers forward Julius Randle (left ankle) and Nick Young (stomach bug) limited.