The Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder have been trending in different directions recently.
The Thunder have surged, entering Saturday’s game against the Lakers in Oklahoma City having won three consecutive games and 15 of their past 20.
The Lakers, though, have faltered, dropping four consecutive games and five of their past six.
The Lakers are hoping to be back to full strength Saturday after LeBron James (left ankle) and Gabe Vincent (left knee) missed Thursday’s loss at Minnesota.
Part of the Lakers’ recent issues has been the struggles of guard D’Angelo Russell.
Going into December, Russell was averaging 17.6 points per game and shooting 49.1 percent from the floor and 41.8 percent from beyond the arc.
Since the beginning of December, Russell is averaging just 9.8 points and shooting 37.5 percent from the floor and 27.5 percent from beyond the arc.
Russell did score 17 points in Thursday’s 118-111 loss to the host Minnesota Timberwolves but was just 7-for-19 from the floor.
Saturday’s game is the second of four meetings between the teams this season.
The Thunder won the first 133-110 Nov. 30 in Oklahoma City.
Rookie Chet Holmgren scored 18 points and had five rebounds and two steals in that game.
Holmgren is coming off one of his best games of the season.
In Thursday’s 134-115 win over the Clippers, he was 9 of 11 from the field, making all eight of his shots inside the arc. Holmgren finished with 23 points, six rebounds and a season-high seven assists.
In Thursday’s game, Holmgren sparked Oklahoma City’s deciding 13-0 run by passing the ball off the glass to himself for a dunk.
Holmgren has shot 50 percent or better from the floor in six consecutive games.
The Thunder lost a couple of starters, Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams, to ankle injuries in Thursday’s win over the Clippers.
Giddey didn’t return while Williams eventually came back. Giddey has been ruled out for the game against the Lakers.
