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Dave McMenamin, ESPN editor
OKLAHOMA CITY — With the Lakers“Once the 26-point lead was reduced to 10 in the final minutes on Saturday, LeBron James scored 11 consecutive points for Los Angeles. The surge brought his total to a season-high 40 points and gave the Lakers one of their best wins of the season. 129-120 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Coming into the evening on a four-game losing streak and tweaking the starting lineup before kickoff – looking like a shell of the team that went 7-0 en route to the current tournament championship of season over the last two weeks – the Lakers have respected the “must win” directive Anthony Davis tagged the game earlier in the week.
James, a week shy of his 39th birthday, became the first player to surpass 40 points in his 21st season.
“We needed this win,” James said. “We didn’t want to end the road trip with a loss. … Coming here to play a team that has played extremely well throughout this season, it was a big win for us.”
The Thunder, the record holder for number 3 in the Western Conference, was thwarted by the Lakers’ new starting lineup which replaced the point guard. D’Angelo Russell with before Jared Vanderbilt – give Los Angeles a big, switchable front line to put pressure on the defense.
Los Angeles led the way in the second quarter, outscoring Oklahoma City 35-20 while holding the Thunder to 36.4 percent shooting in the period.
“You just have to have that size and that physique,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said of the first unit’s effectiveness. “Being able to activate the pick-and-rolls, basically 1-5, was really, really, really good.”
The Lakers’ offense was also very good.
Beyond James’ superb night – 13 of 20 from the field, including 5 of 5 from 3 and 9 of 9 from the free throw line – Davis (26 points) and Rui Hachimura (21 points) also excelled.
The Lakers finished with a game-high 37 assists and put six players in double figures, including Russell, who had 15 points in 17 minutes in his first assignment as a backup.
“The result was a win, so for me that’s all that matters,” Russell said. “So I just find a way to impact winning and be energetic every time I’m on the court.”
The team acknowledged the focused approach it took in the Thunder game, starting with Davis’ challenge after Thursday’s loss to the Thunder. Minnesota Timberwolves and continue shooting around Saturday morning.
“We were so stuck this morning in the shootout,” Hachimura said. “We have to keep doing it. We just have to find a rhythm, and the next one is also important, the Christmas match against the Celtics“.
However, focusing on the Christmas game against Boston can wait for a day. James earned himself and his team a day off on Sunday.
“All I care about is tomorrow’s day off,” James said. “I don’t care about Monday. The only thing I care about Monday right now is my daughter waking up and opening her presents. That’s all. Please don’t even talk to me “Christmas Day for now. Christmas Eve is what matters.” I’m eager to. I’m ready to get my ass on this couch.
