In a forceful display to allay trade rumors, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, 112-105, on Martin Luther King Day.
They had defeated the top team in the Western Conference for the second time in a row. It also strengthened the notion that, in healthy form, the Lakers are capable of defeating opponents.
People discuss deals, this, and that. Nobody is trying to hide anything. “You have a chance to improve, and you will seize it,” Lakers head coach Darvin Ham said to the media following the game. Having said that, we simply need to buckle down, concentrate, and attend to the details with what we have in that locker room. In that locker room, we have more than enough to get some things done.
Ham returned to his starting lineup from the beginning of the campaign. This time, it really paid off the Lakers, led by D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Taurean Prince, LeBron James, and as Anthony Davis, improved to 3-3.
The starting five for the Lakers scored 84 points, seven more than the Thunder’s starting five.
The Lakers played excellent basketball, a rare sight during this dismal 5–12 stretch after their In-Season Tournament title run, with only Cam Reddish (sore knee) and Gabe Vincent (knee surgery) sidelined.
With another incredible performance that included 27 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block, Davis led the team’s offensive surge.
LeBron James, their superstar of 39 years old, contributed 27 points on 12 of 20 shooting, seven rebounds, and six assists. Reaves and Russell combined for 13 assists and 29 points.
