The Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder met in a Western Conference matchup on a Friday night, with the Lakers defeating the Thunder 116-111, bringing the Lakers to .500 for the first time this season.
The game started off with the Lakers taking control early, jumping out to a 41-25 lead in the first quarter. However, the Thunder fought back in the second quarter, outscoring the Lakers 41-33 to cut the deficit to 74-66 at halftime.
The third quarter was a tightly contested affair, with both teams trading baskets throughout the period. However, the Lakers managed to maintain their lead going into the fourth quarter, up 93-92. In the fourth quarter, the Lakers' defense stepped up, holding the Thunder to only 19 points in the period, while they managed to score 23 points themselves to seal the victory.
Anthony Davis was the standout performer for the Lakers, finishing with 37 points and 15 rebounds, while Dennis Schroder added 21 points and 6 assists, and Lonnie Walker IV would add 20 points, including 4 three-pointers. For the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a solid performance, finishing with 27 points and 8 assists, while Josh Giddey added 27 points, 17 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Overall, it was a solid performance from the Lakers, who managed to get a much-needed win without LeBron James. However, they will need to continue to perform at a high level if they want to make the playoffs, as the competition in the Western Conference is fierce. The Lakers meet the Chicago Bulls in their next game on Sunday.