Tip-Off: 9:30 PM CT
Location: Staples Center (Los Angeles, CA)
Television: ESPN, FSOK
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @TheThunderGuys for live-tweets during the game
After the Thunder blew out the Lakers in Los Angeles two weeks ago, it looked like Oklahoma City was turning a corner. They picked up another solid win the following night against the Clippers, but then they proceeded to lose three in a row before winning the last two. Despite being over halfway through the season, the Thunder still looks like a team trying to figure things out, and they could really use Andre Roberson right now. He has been upgraded to questionable, but his status will likely be decided after shootaround.
The Lakers, on the other hand, have seen some solid improvements since these two teams met last. The loss to Oklahoma City was the eighth of a nine-game losing streak for Los Angeles, but they have won four of their last five. The Lakers are dealing with some injuries to some key players, however, so whether or not those guys will be able to go tonight will likely have a major impact on how close the game will be. Either way, the Thunder should have no problem picking up another win in front of the home crowd.
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Russell Westbrook
- SG: Terrance Ferguson
- SF: Paul George
- PF: Carmelo Anthony
- C: Steven Adams
Lakers
- PG: Tyler Ennis
- SG: Josh Hart
- SF: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- PF: Julius Randle
- C: Brook Lopez
Injuries
Thunder
- Andre Roberson (left patellar tendonitis) is questionable.
Lakers
- Lonzo Ball (sore left knee) is doubtful.
- Brandon Ingram (mild left ankle sprain) is questionable.
- Larry Nance, Jr. (right hip pointer) is questionable.
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 20-12 against the Lakers (11-4 at home, 9-8 on the road).
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder has won the season series against the Lakers six times and lost three times.
- The Thunder is 1-0 against the Lakers so far this season.
- The Thunder won two of the three games against Lakers in last season’s series.
- The Thunder has won 11 of the last 12 matchups with the Lakers.
- The Thunder scored a season-high 133 points against the Lakers in Los Angeles two weeks ago on January 3. The Thunder also shot a season-high 60.7% from the field and recorded a season-high 36 assists in that game.
Game Notes
- Oklahoma City has won two in a row, while Los Angeles has won four of their last five.
- Oklahoma City is 5-5 in the last 10 games, while Los Angeles is 4-6.
- Oklahoma City is 15-7 at home, while Los Angeles is 6-14 on the road.
- Oklahoma City is 14-13 against the Western Conference, while Los Angeles is 8-20.
- Oklahoma City is 14-12 in games coming off of one day of rest, while Los Angeles is 10-16 in the same situation.
Article written by Zack Low. Follow @TheThunderGuys on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook.