Lakers blow another huge lead without LeBron James, lose to Thunder for second time in a week

At this level, Los Angeles Lakers followers need to be seeing the Oklahoma City Thunder blue and sundown shade scheme of their nightmares. On Thursday evening with out LeBron James, who’s coping with an stomach harm, the Lakers blew a 19-point lead en path to a 107-104 loss to OKC at Staples Middle. Led by Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony, the Lakers floundered a number of possibilities down the stretch to tie the sport or take the lead, and suffered an embarrassing residence loss.

It was solely OKC’s second win of the season, which might make the loss sting sufficient for the Lakers. However the ache was compounded by the truth that the Lakers did almost this very same factor final Wednesday, blowing a 26-point result in giftwrap the Thunder their first win of the season, 123-115, in Oklahoma Metropolis — additionally with LeBron out on account of harm. That is proper, the Thunder at the moment are 2-6, and each wins have come towards the Lakers.

Thursday’s recreation was eerily just like the earlier matchup, with the Lakers clicking on all cylinders within the first half, however the Thunder steadily chipped away earlier than taking their first lead of the sport on a Kenrich Williams dunk with 5:27 left within the fourth quarter. From there, it was the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander present, as he completed an and-one, assisted on two Mike Muscala baskets, hit two free throws after which knocked down some of the cold-blooded, audacious pictures of the NBA season to this point.

With simply over a minute left within the recreation and an inexpensive 15 seconds remaining on the shot clock, Gilgeous-Alexander hoisted a 34-foot 3-pointer from the emblem and watched it drop by means of the basket because the Lakers stood in disbelief.

“I simply felt it. I often do not shoot that shot in recreation,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated. “It is one thing I apply … It wasn’t like a loopy shot to me. I felt good after I shot it.”

Even after the dagger, the Lakers had an opportunity to come back again. A pair of 3-pointers by Austin Reaves and Anthony minimize the OKC result in two factors, and the Lakers had possession with 27 seconds left after a missed layup by Luguentz Dort. As Westbrook made his approach to the basket, nonetheless, he misplaced the ball on the best way up and it went flying into the stands for a vital turnover.

The Lakers continued to battle, and one other Anthony 3-pointer minimize the result in a single level with just below 10 seconds left. After Dort made two free throws to increase the result in 107-104, Westbrook raced down court docket, however his 3-pointer caromed off the again rim and the clock expired, cementing one other inconceivable Lakers loss.

Gilgeous-Alexander completed with 28 factors, together with 11 within the last seven minutes, and 6 assists, whereas Dort added 17 factors. Davis led the Lakers with 29 factors and 18 rebounds, whereas Westbrook scored 27 factors on 3-for-6 3-point capturing and Anthony knocked down 5 3-pointers, ending with 21 factors.

The Lakers fall to 1-2 with out James within the lineup, with each losses coming to the Thunder in dramatic trend. With James anticipated to overlook no less than per week, the Lakers, now sitting at 5-4, want to determine learn how to win video games with out their celebrity.

“Now we have sufficient items to nonetheless win basketball video games regardless that [James] brings an enormous half at each finish of the ground with what we do,” Davis said after Thursday’s loss.

The excellent news is, the Lakers do not play the Thunder once more till December.