Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stars as Thunder rally to beat Lakers anew
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder tries to keep his dribble from Russell Westbrook #0 and Kent Bazemore #9 and Avery Bradley #20 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Staples Center on November 04, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points, capped by a 34-foot 3-pointer with 1:18 remaining, as the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder continued to find success against the Los Angeles Lakers with a 107-104 victory on Thursday.
Luguentz Dort added 17 points as the Thunder defeated the Lakers for the second time in nine days. They are the only two victories for Oklahoma City in eight tries this season.
Three days after blowing a late lead in the same building in a defeat against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Thunder used a 13-0 run in the fourth quarter to take their first lead of the game.
Oklahoma City finished 1-2 on a three-game trip through California.
Anthony Davis scored 29 points and grabbed 18 rebounds for the Lakers, who were playing without LeBron James (abdominal strain). The Lakers’ star is expected to be out for a week. James also sat out the Lakers’ loss at Oklahoma City last week due to an ankle injury.
🌩 @shaiglalex leads the way in the @okcthunder comeback win with 28 PTS, 6 AST and 4 3PM! pic.twitter.com/yVaT7ux0CF
— NBA (@NBA) November 5, 2021
Davis played the second half with a sprained right thumb after he was injured while battling Gilgeous-Alexander for a rebound just before halftime. He did not return to the floor until after the third quarter started.
A basket inside from Kenrich Williams gave the Thunder an 85-84 lead for their first advantage of the night. Gilgeous-Alexander added a three-point play for an 88-84 lead to cap the 13-0 run.
After the Lakers took a 95-93 lead with 2:23 to go on a bank shot by Davis, the Thunder moved in front for good at 98-95 on a Williams 3-pointer. Gilgeous-Alexander added his long-range 3-pointer for a 101-95 advantage.
The Lakers pulled within 105-104 on a 3-pointer from Carmelo Anthony with 9.6 seconds remaining before the Thunder got two free throws by Dort. Russell Westbrook missed a 3-pointer try just before the buzzer that would have tied the game.
Darius Bazley and Ty Jerome had 14 points each for the Thunder, who overcame a 19-point, first-half deficit. Williams had 13 points, and Derrick Favors contributed 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Westbrook had 27 points for the Lakers, while Anthony had 21 off the bench.
