Story & Images
By Michael Kinney
If there is any way for a 43-point blowout to be called generous, then that is what took place Thursday night in Oklahoma City.
With the Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Los Angeles Lakers in a matchup of two of the top three teams in the Western Conference, it was anything but a contest. The home team obliterated the Lakers 139-96 at the Paycom Center.
In only 30 minutes of action, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 28 points on 12 of 25 shooting. The reigning MVP also notched seven rebounds and seven assists. Running mate Jalen Williams just missed out on a triple-double with 10 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.
Isaiah Joe came off the bench to pour in 20 points as he knocked down 6 of 8 from behind the 3-point arc. As a team, the Thunder drilled 19 3-pointers on the night. That includes nine in the first half as they scored a season high 82 points.
Conversely, whatever the Lakers had been doing to battle their way up to No. 3 in the West, the Thunder didn’t let them have any of it on the Paycom floor.
Auston Reeves paced the Lakers with 15 points while LeBron James added 13 points and six rebounds.
MVP candidate and league-leading scorer Luka Doncic (33.5 ppg) was held to 12 points on 3 of 10 shooting.
That pretty much sums up the game. While Los Angeles looked like an old, battered team that was trying to make it to the end of the schedule on their last leg, Oklahoma City had the look of a squad that realized the playoffs are around the corner and it’s time to get serious.
As the end of the NBA regular season nears, the Thunder now finds itself in a surprising position. For much of the year, it felt like the defending NBA champions were coasting their way to first place in the Western Conference and the best record in the league.
However, Oklahoma City (61-16) is fighting to hold off San Antonio (59-18) for the top spot in the West.
The Spurs are only two games behind the Thunder with just five games left on the schedule.
While the Thunder proved last season that it can win at home or on the road during the playoffs, the Spurs have also proven the same. If the two squads are destined to meet up in the Western Conference Finals, the Thunder don’t want to have to play a Game 7 in San Antonio if they don’t have to.
The Spurs own the tie-breaker by virtue of winning the season series. That is what made the win over Los Angeles so important.
Of their final five contests, three are against teams currently in the West playoff picture. They include a rematch with the Lakers (April 7), the LA Clippers (April 8), and Denver (April 10).
Playoff basketball has essentially started, and every game matters. Judging from their last outing, that appears to be the way Oklahoma City likes it.
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