LeBron James scores 33, sets tone as Lakers beat Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY — That uncomfortable acquainted lump started rising successful the thorax of galore Lakers fans arsenic they saw a monolithic second-quarter pb statesman to gaffe away.

When the Oklahoma City Thunder reeled disconnected a 16-3 run, it felt similar past repeating itself. Twice earlier this season, this scrappy franchise had knocked disconnected the Lakers by erasing a double-digit first-half shortage – and it was casual to spot however the Thunder mightiness propulsion it disconnected again.

But an important distinction: In those erstwhile meetings, the Lakers (14-13) didn’t person LeBron James successful the lineup. And caller disconnected a Thursday nighttime disappointment successful Memphis, the 36-year-old aboriginal Hall of Famer wasn’t astir to fto different roadworthy squad disconnected the hook.

So a blowout, for once, remained a blowout arsenic James (33 points, six assists, 5 rebounds) took a starring relation successful the 116-95 win, the Lakers’ archetypal triumph successful 3 meetings against a rebuilding squad that stubbornly hung tough. But they couldn’t bent against the Lakers’ red-hot shooting, arsenic the visitors knocked down 19 3-pointers successful a deluge.

The Lakers won without All-Star large antheral Anthony Davis, a precocious scratch owed to near genu soreness. James’ astonishing wingman was Avery Bradley, who was 6 for 8 from down the arc connected the mode to a season-high 22 points portion ferociously guarding Thunder frontman Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and forcing the shot retired of his hands.

But James was the engine, shooting 13 for 20 overall, including cutting dunks successful modulation and stepback 3-pointers successful the look of his hapless defenders. In 1 memorable first-quarter stretch, helium scored 3 consecutive baskets, starting with a dunk and wrapping the series with a 3-pointer. He made 8 of his archetypal 9 shots successful the crippled and finished 4 for 6 from deep.

James has bemoaned often that he’s missed the accidental to find a scoring bushed during a choppy commencement to his season; Friday was the archetypal clip he’s been capable to look successful 4 consecutive games, sidelined by injury, suspension oregon a little enactment successful the NBA’s COVID-19 protocols. But James mightiness yet person recovered a groove for his 19th season: He’s present scored astatine slightest 30 points successful 5 of his past 7 games.

The Lakers managed to triumph without a beardown scoring nighttime from Russell Westbrook, who called Oklahoma City location for much than a decennary but had different uneven night. While helium didn’t melt down arsenic spectacularly arsenic successful October erstwhile his 10 turnovers helped the Lakers stroke a 26-point lead, helium finished with a pedestrian (for him) enactment of 8 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists alongside 5 turnovers. He took conscionable 8 shots.

The Lakers, who had 23 assists, got capable from their relation players to compensate for Westbrook’s disconnected night. Austin Reaves re-entered the rotation and finished with a gritty 13-point, five-rebound effort. Talen Horton-Tucker had 11 points and Wayne Ellington added 8 points.

Also aiding the Lakers was Oklahoma City’s heavy shooting drought. The Thunder’s erstwhile comebacks were built connected streaky 3-point shooting, but connected Friday they were conscionable 10 for 44 from deep, misfiring connected a fig of wide-open looks. The Lakers outscored their hosts successful the archetypal 3 quarters.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who came successful averaging 21.9 points per game, finished with 11 points connected 5-of-12 shooting.

The Lakers concisely instrumentality location for 1 crippled against the Orlando Magic earlier a three-game travel that volition nonstop them to Dallas, Minnesota and Chicago.

More to travel connected this story.