The Oklahoma City Thunder played one of their best games on Thursday against the Rockets. Coming into tonight’s game against the Lakers the news broke out that LeBron James and Anthony Davis were going to be out tonight. Once that news came out the Lakers knew other players would have to step up for them to be victorious. Rajon Rondo took the challenge tonight to help his team get the win as he came out looking like vintage Rondo from Boston. Rajon Rondo set the tone for the Lakers with his offense and was able to get other players involved early. The Lakers played with freedom and played unselfishly tonight as a whole which helped out big time. The Lakers had a well-balanced attack against the Thunder and they couldn’t miss from the 3 point line in the first half. At one point in the game, the Lakers were shooting 88% from the 3 point line and that helped them maintain a double-digit margin throughout the night. The Thunder were down by 32 points in the game and it looked as though it was going to be tough to crawl back in this game. The OKC Thunder were getting the good looks that they usually do but the shots just didn’t fall tonight.
The Thunder got caught up in the LA Lakers 3 point shooting and failed at attempting it tonight as they only shot 9-31 for 29%. Every time the Thunder would try to make a run the Lakers would make a crucial shot that would stop the momentum. One player that had it going for the Lakers all night from start to finish was Kyle Kuzma. On the night Kuzma finished with 36 points which were a season-high. It seemed like Kyle Kuzma couldn’t miss anything that he put up from inside or outside it didn’t matter. With LeBron and AD being out Kyle Kuzma stepped his game up and made the most of the opportunity. The Thunder tried to put Gallinari and Bazley on Kuzma tonight but he was feeling it as he hit 15-24 from the field. Kyle Kuzma had the points but Rajon Rondo set the tone from start to finish as he dropped 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists. The Lakers bench players had bigger roles tonight and stepped up in a major way in a game that most would have given to the Thunder from the beginning. The Lakers had seven players in double figures on the night and shot 51% from the field as a team. The Thunder just didn’t have it from the start of the game and it showed as the Lakers jumped on them right away. The Thunder tried to fight back in this game but the time was running out on that attempt.
The Oklahoma City Thunder had a bad game overall as a unit especially after the big win against the Rockets. This was a game they started out the game flat and it came back to get them. All night the Thunder were trying to slow down the Lakers and catch up in the score but it didn’t work in their favor. Danilo Gallinari and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a combined 48 points on the night as they tried to shoot the Thunder back into the game. This was a prime example of shooting yourself in the foot because the Thunder as a unit is better than the Lakers team that played tonight. Dennis Schröder wasn’t himself tonight as he missed some shots that he usually makes as well. Schröder gives the Thunder team some added energy and tonight he wasn’t able to get into a true rhythm offensively. Chris Paul was able to get his game going but it was a little too late. The Lakers didn’t have anyone that can guard Chris Paul but the opportunities just weren’t there overall as a team. It’s easy to say that the Thunder looked over the Lakers without their stars but sometimes it happens. The Thunder lived by the three and died by the three tonight. This team has been able to bounce back all season and this game will be one of those moments that help them regain that focus. The Thunder were playing really good defense but the Lakers were just making some tough shots all night long. The Thunder will look to bounce back as they play the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road. Tonight was one of those nights where the three guards just didn’t have it going and all season long they’ve been playing at a high level. Look for the Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Dennis Schröder to bounce back in a major way.
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