Davis and LeBron helps Lakers heal

The Los Angeles Lakers’ season has been a rollercoaster of emotions and results. After soaring above the entire NBA with the first-ever In-Season Tournament title, the team faced a sharp decline, experiencing defeat after defeat, internal turmoil, and a lack (or absence) of fluidity in their gameplay.

There’s no indication that this trend will change in the short term, with a continuous ebb and flow. However, the Lakers manage to avoid hitting rock bottom with both palms (although they come close many times) and can stop the bleeding when the situation gets dire. A clear example of this was seen on Tuesday: after two painful stumbles against the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz, the purple and gold secured a crucial victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder (112-105).

Lakers quieten Thunder

It was a display of strength, with Anthony Davis and LeBron James leading the attack. Together, they scored 52 points, with the power forward contributing 27 points and the small forward adding 25. Davis also grabbed 15 rebounds. The Lakers showcased defensive prowess, especially in the second half when they employed a zone defense that had some weaknesses in its frontline (which seemed well-worked, not improvised). However, with Davis and Wood under the basket, they forced OKC to channel their offensive flow from the perimeter, and the Thunder struggled, shooting 15 of 49 from beyond the arc.

From that point, the Thunder’s demise in the game began, as they appeared to turn the ball over too often, leaving ample space for an opponent that controlled the moments of confrontation well. Despite Williams’ 25 points and Shai’s 24, it wasn’t enough for the second-best team in the Western Conference to extend their winning streak to five consecutive victories.