OKLAHOMA CITY — — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 factors, and the Oklahoma City Thunder routed the Los Angeles Lakers 139-96 on Thursday night time in a recreation wherein NBA main scorer Luka Doncic left because of damage.
Only six occasions of their storied historical past have the Lakers been defeated by extra factors. They fell six factors in need of their worst margin of defeat ever — a 49-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks in 2017.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning league MVP, obtained one of the best of his matchup with Doncic — considered one of Gilgeous-Alexander’s prime rivals for this season’s award. Doncic had scored no less than 40 factors in 5 of his earlier seven video games, however he completed with 12 factors on 3-for-10 capturing from the sphere and 1-for-7 capturing from 3-point vary in opposition to the Thunder’s suffocating protection.
Doncic left the sport with a left hamstring damage in the course of the third quarter. Lakers coach JJ Redick mentioned he can have an MRI on Friday.
Austin Reaves scored 15 factors and LeBron James added 13 for the Lakers.
Isaiah Joe added 20 factors and made six 3-pointers as Oklahoma City shot 53.9% to show a matchup between two of the league’s hottest groups right into a blowout. The Thunder have now received 16 of 17. The Lakers had received 4 straight and 13 of 14.
It was a important recreation for Oklahoma City. The Thunder entered the night time two video games forward of San Antonio within the race for homecourt benefit all through the playoffs with six video games remaining.
In an indication of issues to return within the recreation, it took the Lakers almost 5 minutes to make their first discipline objective. The Thunder led 44-21 on the finish of the primary behind 14 factors from Lu Dort.
The Lakers had one other capturing drought to begin the second quarter, taking a bit of greater than 4 minutes to make their discipline objective. The Thunder reached their season excessive level whole for a primary half once they took a 76-41 lead on a layup by Gilgeous-Alexander with 3:25 left within the second quarter.
Oklahoma City led 82-51 on the break, falling a degree in need of the Thunder regular-season document for factors in a half. They scored 83 within the first half of a recreation in opposition to Minnesota in 2021.
Joe hit three 3-pointers in an 85-second flurry to place the Thunder up 99-61 within the third quarter. The groups performed reserves all through the fourth quarter.
The Lakers will host a rematch on April 7.
Lakers: Visit the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.
Thunder: Host the Utah Jazz on Sunday.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
