Lakers snap four-game skid behind big night from LeBron.
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Los Angeles Lakers snapped a four-game skid on Saturday in their 129-120 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder behind a 40-point performance from LeBron James.
For the first time in his 21st season, LeBron scored 40 points, finishing 5-for-5 from three with seven rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and two steals in 37 minutes of action.
“To know I can go out and still make game-winning plays, affect the game in multiple ways, still close out a game in the fourth quarter when our team needed it when they [Thunder] made a run is always a good feeling,” LeBron said.
With a perfect night from deep and high efficiency from the floor, LeBron is shooting 54% from the field and 39.2% from three in 28 games this season.
With a four-game losing streak looming coming into their matchup, head coach Darvin Ham and the coaching staff took a different approach in the starting unit. Going with LeBron, Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince, Jarred Vanderbilt and Anthony Davis.
“Definitely,” Ham said when asked if there was a noticeable difference in the team's energy with the starting five.
Just having that size and physicality, being able to switch pick and rolls one through five, was really, really, really good,” Ham said.
After a 39-36 deficit at the end of the first quarter, the Lakers bounced back with urgency in the second quarter, outscoring Oklahoma City 35-20. The Lakers came out of the second half with a continued sense of purpose, leading by as many as 26 points to close out the game as they keep their lead throughout.
As a team, the Lakers shot over 50% from three and the field, shooting 50% from three on 16-of-32 and 52.2% overall on 47-for-90.
Davis finished second in scoring for the Lakers with 26 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks on the night in 41 minutes.
“He allows you to do so many different things just because of his defensive versatility,” Ham said.
Rui Hachimura made the loudest impact on the Lakers bench, scoring 21 points and six rebounds in 29 minutes.
In his adjustment to coming off the bench for the first time this season, D’Angelo Russell finished with a solid outing on the shot chart. He shot 3-for-3 from behind the arc with 15 points and three assists in 17 minutes.
“Just finding a way to impact winning and being energy whenever I get out on the floor,” Russell said on his insurgence from the bench.
The Lakers will travel back home to face their historic rival Boston Celtics in a must-see Christmas Day matchup at Crypto.com Arena at 2 p.m. on ESPN and ABC.
