Luka Doncic scored 30 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 126-99 road win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday.
The Lakers finished with a season-high 22 3-pointers on 40 attempts (55 percent). Austin Reaves had 20 points and he and Doncic were two of four Los Angeles players with four or more 3-pointers. Dorian Finney-Smith (14 points) and Gabe Vincent (12) each made four triples, while LeBron James added 19 points and seven assists.
The Lakers (48-30) have won four of their last five.
The Thunder have dropped back-to-back games for the second time this season. Oklahoma City (64-14) had not lost a game by more than 15 points this season, other than the NBA Cup championship game that did not count toward the league standings.
The Lakers got going from deep early and didn’t cool off in the first half. Los Angeles hit 10 of its first 12 3-pointers to help it build a lead that stretched as large as 29 in the first half.
The Lakers finished the first half 15 of 22 from beyond the arc, tying a franchise record for 3-pointers in a half.
Los Angeles ripped off a 16-6 run late in the first quarter to grab control and lead by 11.
The Lakers hit three 3-pointers in that stretch, including two on consecutive possessions by Vincent. They were 7 of 9 from beyond the arc in the opening quarter to score 42 points against the team with the top defensive rating in the NBA.
Los Angeles quickly stretched its lead to 20 in the first three minutes of the second quarter and Oklahoma City never got closer than 13 the rest of the way.
The Lakers dominated despite not scoring off a Thunder turnover until more than three minutes into the fourth quarter when James stepped in front of an Aaron Wiggins pass near midcourt and ran uncontested for a raucous dunk.
It was just Oklahoma City’s third turnover of the game.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 26 points, extending his streak of scoring 20 or more points to 71 games.
Gilgeous-Alexander added nine assists and did not attempt a free throw for the first time this season. Jalen Williams had 16 points and Chet Holmgren scored 10.
The game was the first of back-to-back games between the teams in Oklahoma City. They’ll meet again Tuesday.
–Field Level Media
Kristaps Porzingis scored 34 points and tied a career high with eight 3-pointers as the visiting Boston Celtics beat the New York Knicks 119-117 in overtime Tuesday. With their ninth…
Ivica Zubac scored 24 points and grabbed 20 rebounds and James Harden added 21 points and 12 assists as the Los Angeles Clippers continued their strong close to the regular…
Stephen Curry amassed 25 points, nine rebounds and six assists, Brandin Podziemski scored 22 points, and the visiting Golden State Warriors blew past the Phoenix Suns 133-95 on Tuesday. Trayce…
Clippers top Spurs, move into 4-way tie for 4th in West
Stephen Curry, Warriors leave Suns on brink of elimination
Thunder take charge after Luka Doncic ejection, top Lakers to avenge Sunday loss
Celtics edge Knicks in OT, will be East’s No. 2 seed
Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM
