NBA Matchup: LA Lakers vs Oklahoma City Thunder
Date: 27th October 2021
Time: 8:00 PM ET
LA Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder will play their 5th game of the season. Lakers are .500 for the season and Thunder is yet to register their 1st victory. Lakers will be riding high with victory over Spurs when they overtook the deficit of 12 points in the 4th quarter, forcing the game into overtime.
Oklahoma City on the other hand is still winless. OKC has scored above 100 only once in their 4 matches. The average difference by which OKC has lost their games is 18, very high considering the NBA’s competitive standards.
LeBron James was sidelined as precautions, having hurt his right ankle against Memphis. But the Lakers always kept the game within reach by showing great character against ever-so-perfect Spurs. And in the overtime LA’s Dynamic duo Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook took over the game. That match had some explosive plays from Westbrook we are used to seeing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkqYmwEUzo0
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The franchise is into a rebuild state at Oklahoma City. They are looking to build around Shai Gilgeos-Alexander. Shai is the top scorer for Thunder as expected but the rest of the team is struggling to find their rhythm yet.
LA Lakers vs Oklahoma City Thunder Match Prediction
Davis, with season-high 35 points against Spurs bettered his average points per game to 28. Russell Westbrook also added 22 Points last game. This could be an encouraging scene for Laker-Nation as the idea behind the high-profile acquisition was to have 3rd bonafide superstar seems to work for them.
The Lakers had this issue last season when Davis was not available in Playoffs. And LeBron missed junk of Regular season games due to injury. Carmelo Anthony also showed positive sparks with his performance against Memphis.
Oklahoma City currently has the worst record, ranked 30 with a 0-4 record. Offensively OKC is only ahead of Detroit Pistons – scoring 94.5 points per game. The defence also is not looking good for OKC where they are allowing 113 points per game. With the current roster and front office idea of expansion, it will certainly be a 3-year long plan for Oklahoma to challenge for the championship.
A team Once reached the NBA finals recently in the 2011-12 season with arguably one of a great scoring young trio of Westbrook, Harden, and Durant to the current stage is certainly sad for OKC fans.
Despite LeBron is not available for the matchup, the Lakers will look to seal this game and move up in the western conference.
Injury Report
LA Lakers:
LeBron James (Ankle): will miss a game as a precaution
Kendrick Nunn (Knee): Expected to return on 8th Nov
Talen-Horten Tucker (Thumb): Expected to return on 8th Nov
Trevor Ariza (Ankle): Expected to Return on 16th Dec
Oklahoma City Thunders:
No Injuries
Predicted Starting 5:
Los Angeles Lakers:
Malik Monk (PG), Russell Westbrook (SG), Kent Bazemore (SF), Anthony Davis (PF), DeAndre Jordan (C )
Oklahoma City Thunders:
Josh Giddey (PG), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SG), Darius Bazley (SF), Luguentz Dort (PF), Jeremiah Robinson-Erl (C)
How to watch LA Lakers vs Oklahoma City Thunders?
LA Lakers vs OKC Thunders will take place in Paycom Center, OKC. The stadium is prepared to accept fans in full capacity. International viewers can access the game on NBA League Pass.
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