In a thrilling NBA Cup game on Friday night, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 101-93 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Gilgeous-Alexander scored an impressive 36 points, with 15 of those coming in the decisive fourth quarter. This win marks the Thunder’s fourth straight victory, with Jalen Williams contributing 19 points to the team’s success.
While Dalton Knecht put up a strong effort for the Lakers with 20 points, including five 3-pointers, it wasn’t enough to secure a win. D’Angelo Russell added 17 points off the bench for the struggling Lakers, who have now lost four of their last five games.
The Lakers’ hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals have been dashed with this loss, as they currently stand at a 2-2 record in the NBA Cup tournament. Meanwhile, Phoenix, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City are all tied at 2-1 in West Group B.
Isaiah Hartenstein’s impressive performance with 11 points and a season-high 18 rebounds was crucial for the Thunder’s victory. The Lakers, on the other hand, saw Anthony Davis contributing 15 points and 12 rebounds, and LeBron James scoring 12 points in the game.
A key moment came in the final seconds of the game when a turnover by the Lakers led to an easy dunk for the Thunder, sealing their victory. The Lakers struggled with turnovers throughout the game, committing 17 in total, with four of those coming in the crucial fourth quarter.
Looking ahead, the Thunder will face Houston on Sunday, while the Lakers will take on Utah. Despite this setback, both teams will be looking to bounce back and continue their pursuit of success in the NBA Cup tournament.
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