Lakers NBA Cup run effectively comes to end with loss to Thunder

Errors late in the game proved costly for the Lakers, who stumbled down the stretch to lose to the Thunder on Friday, ending their NBA Cup dreams.

The Lakers will not go back-to-back in the NBA Cup. In a must-win game against the Thunder to keep their hopes alive of moving out of the group, the Lakers were undone by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and errors down the stretch as they fell to OKC, 101-93.

D’Angelo Russell had one of his best games of the season with 17 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals. Dalton Knecht led the team in scoring with 20 points with four assists.

Anthony Davis ended with 15 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and four blocks. LeBron James scored 12 points with eight rebounds and six assists.

Rui Hachimura pitched in with eight points and five rebounds. Austin Reaves scored 11 points with five rebounds and three assists.

Thanksgivingitis had hold of the Lakers, who came out flat and couldn’t defend a red-hot Thunder team. The Lakers were down by 10, forcing a timeout to regroup. Four straight points by AD along with a 3-pointer by Dalton made it a five-point game.

Every single Laker who entered the game in the opening quarter scored. OKC withstood LA’s sudden scoring onslaught and was up eight at the end of the first.

Three different Lakers scored to open the second quarter to make it a one-point game. Los Angeles’ offense was flowing much better. The Thunder started missing shots they were making in the first period.

OKC started to heat up and went up four with seven minutes left until halftime. The Thunder started suffocating the Lakers with their defense, giving LA trouble offensively. The hosts were in a four-minute scoring drought before Austin made a layup to make it a two-point game.

It was a tie game after Gabe Vincent knocked down a midrange shot. Both teams kicked up their energy and defense. Austin took a nasty fall while being fouled and eventually headed to the locker room with two minutes left to halftime.

Consecutive layups by LeBron and AD, with AD getting fouled and completing the and one, put the Lakers up by two. LA had a breakdown defensively, leading to a 3-pointer by Kenrich Williams to put the Thunder up three at halftime.

The Thunder opened up the second half extending their lead to nine as the Lakers struggled to defend them. A midrange shot by Rui and two 3-pointers by D’Lo and Dalton made it a one-point game. A massive block by AD led to a two-handed dunk with authority in transition for Dalton.

AD was then fouled and converted both free throws to put the team up by two. After spending a chunk of the quarter in the locker room, Austin returned to the game.

At the halfway point, the game was tied. The Lakers were in a scoring drought while the game was still tied until Dalton moved the purple and gold ahead on a 3-pointer.

The defense was playing a major factor in it being such a close affair. At the end of the third, Aaron Wiggins put OKC up two.

A three by D’Lo made it a one-point game to start the final frame. D’Lo then put the Lakers up as he began heating up. It was a hard-fought battle and the Thunder knocked down two threes to make it a five-point lead for them.

With 5:43 left, Max Christie converted on both free throws to cut the deficit to three. The Thunder kept extending their lead as soon as LA would catch fire. Dalton knocked down two threes but it was a five-point game.

Austin was fouled and made two free throws to make it a three-point game. He then made it a one-point game with a free throw. SGA gave the Thunder a four-point lead with a 3-pointer. Max responded with a midrange shot with 28 seconds.

Shai converted on two free throws to extend the lead to four with 22 seconds left. Turnovers bit the Lakers in the behind, leading to another two points for the Thunder and sealing the win.

Key Takeaways:

STOP TURNING THE BALL OVER!!!

The Lakers have an endless problem of forcing 3-pointers. They force them whenever they don’t need them. Find better shots, when you aren’t known as a team that shoots the lights out from behind the arc, find a better shot. Unless, of course, you’re Dalton, go ahead and take those threes!

The balanced attack scoring has been a nice sudden development for this team. It means they’re finding their offensive strengths. When you struggle defensively, it helps to counter it with improved offense.

While his 3-pointers have been in a massive slump, Gabe looks more confident when he takes midrange shots or shoots layups. It might benefit him more if he continues to take those shots to build up his offensive confidence.

The Lakers’ next game will be Sunday against the Utah Jazz at 5:00 PM PT.

You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.