The Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder will bring a three-game winning streak and an unbeaten road trip so far into Los Angeles on Friday for an NBA Cup group-play game against the Lakers.
The Thunder hold a 1-1 record in West Group B and can advance by defeating the Lakers and the Utah Jazz at home on Tuesday. Oklahoma City may still need favorable tiebreaking scenarios to advance to the knockout round.
The Lakers have a narrow path to advancing in the tournament for a second consecutive season. The simplest way for them to move forward is to beat the Thunder and hope the Phoenix Suns lose to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.
After losing an NBA Cup game to the Spurs last week, the Thunder have bounced back with three straight wins, including a 105-101 victory on the road against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 35 points, although Jalen Williams left just before halftime with an eye injury while defending a dunk attempt and did not return. Williams isn’t listed on the injury report for Friday’s game. Oklahoma City also played without Chet Holmgren (hip) and former Laker Alex Caruso (hip), both of whom are out until the new year.
Isaiah Hartenstein stepped up for the Thunder with 14 points and 14 rebounds, helping to fill the void left by Williams. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, and Oklahoma City secured the win despite shooting just 31.6 percent in the final period.
The Lakers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 119-101 victory on the road against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. Rookie Dalton Knecht led the team with 20 points, making 4 of his 10 attempts from three-point range.
Anthony Davis contributed 19 points and 14 rebounds, while LeBron James delivered a triple-double with 16 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds. It was James’ sixth triple-double of the season at age 39.
A month shy of his 40th birthday, James has averaged 22.9 points, 9.3 assists, and 8.2 rebounds while not missing a game this season. Knecht has made a significant impact in his first season, averaging 11.7 points and recording at least 20 points in three games.
In two seasons of the NBA’s in-season tournament, the Lakers have lost just once, with that defeat coming on Tuesday in a 127-100 road loss to the Phoenix Suns. The Lakers are the defending tournament champions.
