LOS ANGELES— The Oklahoma City Thunder withstood a late charge to outlast the Los Angeles Lakers on a spirited Black Friday encounter between two Western Conference powerhouses.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scattered 36 points while Jalen Williams and Lou Dart pooled together 33 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists to help the Oklahoma etch a big 101-93 road win.
Trailng for the most part of a neck-and-neck contest, rookie sensation Dalton Knecht sank a 25-foot 3 to pull the Lakers to within 87-84 in the final 5:11 of the fourth quarter.
Playing on hostile territory, in front of a roaring crowd of 18,997 fans, the Thunder would be tested several more times in the payoff period before relying on their poise and experience to stay on top of the West standings with a 15-4 record.
Thunder head coach Mark Daignault was all praise for SGA at his postgame press conference following a tense battle.
“He’s worked hard on it. He’s got a lot of confidence in it. He’s obviously stepped in a couple of big ones in there,” Dignault said of his All-Star guard’s 36-point effort.
Knecht led the Lakers with 20. LeBron James had 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists while Anthony Davis finished with 15 and 12 boards and the Lakers fell to 11-8/
James lamented his team’s late-quarter executions that contributed to this loss.
“I think you’re just in a tough spot sometimes. In terms of reviewing stuff, going over stuff, showing stuff pregame. They’re going to trap at the end of the quarter to get the ball back. We want the last shot. Yeah, sometimes you’re just in a tough spot and you get to keep doing it. We’ll get it. We’ll learn from it,” James told reporters.
