OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers Game Player Stats and Box Scores for March 4, 2024
The OKC Thunder and LA Lakers met for the fourth and final time this season on Monday. Oklahoma, which lost 112-105 on Jan. 15, hoped to get some payback to even the season series. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams led Oklahoma’s charge against the Lakers.
The visitors had a quick start behind “SGA” and Josh Giddey. They raced to an early 21-11 advantage before the Lakers chased them down. Austin Reaves, Anthony Davis and Rui Hachimura led LA’s run late in the first quarter to tie the game 25-25 leading into the next period.
It was the Lakers' turn to have a sizzling start when the second quarter rolled in. Oklahoma also missed several wide-open shots that allowed LA to take a 10-point lead. OKC, however, recovered just in time to keep the hosts within striking distance.
A late flurry by the LA Lakers led by LeBron James gave them a 52-43 advantage after the game's first 24 minutes. "King James," who went scoreless in the first quarter, had nine in the second.
The LA Lakers defense bared its teeth in the third quarter against the OKC Thunder. Darvin Ham used multiple defenders on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and hounded him to an inefficient night scoring the basket.
LeBron James didn't have a big scoring gamet but his rebounding and playmaking were crucial. He and Anthony Davis dominated the interior for the Lakers. The home team's 44-22 advantage in points in the paint was the biggest storyline in the first three quarters of play. LA's defense and superiority in the shaded lane pushed them to a commanding 89-72 edge heading into the fourth quarter.
The floodgates opened at the start of the final period with LA hardly missing anything. D'Angelo Russell's three straight triples pushed the lead to 103-79 with 9:02 left. The Thunder, which played the second game of a back-to-back set, look gassed.
LeBron James' night ended with 6:04 remaining in the game and LA leading 107-85. He played 31 minutes and tallied 19 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and one steal. Darvin Ham began fielding his second-stringers.
The night mercifully ended for the OKC Thunder, which lost 116-104 to the Lakers. Oklahoma lost the season series to LA and dropped to 42-19, which is tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the best record in the West.
OKC Thunder vs LA Lakers game player stats and box scores
OKC Thunder game player stats
LA Lakers game player stats