Whereas the NBA common season ends, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder is loud with the perfect file, resembling the perfect staff within the League. However not Sunday.
Only a recreation deleted from Don’t fall into the hunt for 70 victoriesThe Thunder fell residence after a dominant efficiency by Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers gained the 126-99 victory after taking a giant two-digit lead within the first half and by no means wanting again.
Commercial
After a comparatively tight first quarter, the Lakers started to run away within the second setting, advancing as much as 29 factors. The rating of 78-56 at halftime scored probably the most factors that the Thunder has granted in half this season.
The large advance of the was supported by a stellar half of Luka Dončić, who completed with 22 factors within the first half, together with 5 3 factors. The Lakers have mixed for 15 factors of three half-time in total-for probably the most half in a single half of the historical past of the franchise-with Austin Reaves, Dorian Finney-Smith and Gabe Vincent in three triplets every in half.
This domination continued within the second half, whereas the Lakers saved thunder at a distance from the arm. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of OKC continued his MVP marketing campaign with a efficiency of 26 factors, however turned aimlessly in direction of the top of the match. He and the remainder of the Thunder had hassle slicing the deficit, although the Lakers had been turning the ball greater than 15 instances.
Commercial
The nice victory of the Lakers was supported by stable bench performances of Finney-Smith and Vincent, and a rise within the second half of LeBron James, who completed with 19 factors. However it was Dončić’s magic that actually stood out: even a bloody lip midway from the second half couldn’t cease Dončić, who completed with 30 factors after placing wild photographs.
And to prime it off, Bonny James obtained a 3 -point within the final minute of the match. General, a fantastic recreation for Los Angeles.
Whereas the Thunder, at 64-14, has the seeded n ° 1 already completed, victories like these are important for the Lakers at this stage of the season. The east is at present third within the Western Convention, holding a 48-30 file with Sunday’s victory.
However the center of the west is extremely tight in the mean time: 5 different groups are in a single or two Lakers victories, all these groups additionally gained locations within the playoffs. With 4 common season video games, the Lakers can at all times safe as excessive because the seeded n ° 2 whereas doubtlessly falling from the primary six locations to keep away from the sport event.
