Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 36 points on 13-of-22 shooting to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder past the Los Angeles Lakers 130-123 at Crypto.com Arena on Friday night, extending the young team’s impressive start to the season.
The Thunder (12-4) jumped out to a 15-point halftime lead and withstood a furious Lakers rally in the final quarter to hand Los Angeles its third loss in four games. Anthony Davis answered with 35 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers (10-6), but it wasn’t enough to prevent their slide down the Western Conference standings.
Thunder’s Balanced Attack Overwhelms Lakers Defense
Oklahoma City shot 52.3% from the field and connected on 17 three-pointers, with six different players scoring in double figures. Jalen Williams added 20 points and eight assists, while Chet Holmgren contributed 18 points and seven rebounds in his matchup against Davis.
“We moved the ball really well tonight,” Gilgeous-Alexander said postgame. “When we share it like that and get good looks, we’re tough to beat.”
The 25-year-old guard has now scored 30-plus points in seven of his last 10 games, averaging 31.2 points per game this season while shooting 53.1% from the field. His efficient scoring has been the driving force behind Oklahoma City’s surprising 12-4 start, which has them sitting second in the competitive Western Conference.
Lakers’ Fourth-Quarter Push Falls Short
Down 102-87 entering the final frame, the Lakers mounted a desperate comeback attempt behind Davis and LeBron James. The 20-time All-Star finished with 21 points, nine assists and six rebounds, but struggled with his shot early, going just 7-for-18 from the field.
Los Angeles cut the deficit to four points with 3:48 remaining when Austin Reaves buried a three-pointer, but the Thunder responded with clutch baskets from Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams to maintain their advantage.
“We dug ourselves too big of a hole,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “You can’t spot a team like that 15 points and expect to come back against their execution.”
Youth Movement Continues for Oklahoma City
The victory marked another statement win for the Thunder’s young core, which has exceeded expectations after last season’s play-in tournament appearance. At 24 years old, Holmgren has emerged as a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate in his first NBA season, averaging 17.8 points and 8.1 rebounds while providing elite rim protection.
Oklahoma City’s 12-4 record represents the franchise’s best 16-game start since the 2012-13 season, when they reached the Western Conference semifinals. The Thunder have won seven of their last nine games, with their only recent losses coming against the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets.
Lakers Face Mounting Pressure
The loss dropped the Lakers to 10-6, leaving them in sixth place in the loaded Western Conference. After opening the season with a promising 7-4 record, Los Angeles has struggled to maintain consistency, particularly on the defensive end where they allowed 130 points for the second time in their last four outings.
Davis has been spectacular individually, averaging 28.1 points and 12.3 rebounds per game, but the supporting cast around him and James has been inconsistent. D’Angelo Russell managed just 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting against his former team, while the Lakers’ bench contributed only 22 points.
“We’ve got to be better defensively,” Davis said. “When you give up 130 points, it’s hard to win games in this league.”
The Thunder shot 51.5% from three-point range, connecting on 17 of 33 attempts from beyond the arc. Lu Dort added 14 points on 4-of-7 three-point shooting, while Isaiah Joe chipped in 13 points off the bench.
Oklahoma City heads home for a three-game homestand beginning Monday against the Sacramento Kings, while the Lakers continue their homestand Sunday against the Utah Jazz.
