Tip-Off: 7 PM CT
Location: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Television: Bally Sports Oklahoma
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @ZacharyLowNBA for live-tweets and discussion during the game
The Oklahoma City Thunder played their best game of the season last night, hosting the undefeated Golden State Warriors. Leading by double digits for the majority of the first three quarters, the Thunder was unable to hold on to the end, and the Warriors were able to stage the comeback to win 106-98.
Tonight, the Thunder hosts the Los Angeles Lakers. This will be the first time since January of 2020 that Russell Westbrook will be in the building, so it will be exciting to see him live and in person playing basketball yet again.
The Lakers are fresh off a 125-121 overtime victory against the San Antonio Spurs, and they have gotten off to a bit of a rocky start. At 2-2, the Lakers dropped their first two games against the Warriors and the Suns, so at least their losses have come at the hands of formidable opponents.
Tonight’s matchup could be interesting based upon who is available for the Lakers. Lebron James and Anthony Davis will likely be game time decisions, and Russell Westbrook hasn’t played in the second game of very many back-to-backs over the last few seasons.
Regardless of who takes the floor for Los Angeles, you can bet that the youth of the Thunder squad will be primed and ready to put up their best fight. Who knows? Maybe OKC can grab their first win of the season.
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SG: Luguentz Dort
- SF: Josh Giddey
- PF: Darius Bazley
- C: Derrick Favors
Lakers
- PG: Russell Westbrook
- SG: Kent Bazemore
- SF: Lebron James
- PF: Anthony Davis
- C: DeAndre Jordan
Injuries
Thunder
- Vit Krejci is OUT (G League – on assignment).
- Mike Muscala is OUT (rest).
- Paul Watson is OUT (G League – two-way).
- Aaron Wiggins is OUT (G League – two-way).
Lakers
- Trevor Ariza is OUT (right ankle injury recovery).
- Anthony Davis is QUESTIONABLE (knee soreness).
- Wayne Ellington is QUESTIONABLE (strained left hamstring).
- Talen Horton-Tucker is OUT (right thumb injury recovery).
- Lebron James is OUT (right ankle soreness).
- Kendrick Nunn is OUT (right knee bone bruise).
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 24-21 against the Lakers (13-9 at home, 11-12 on the road).
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder has won the season series against the Lakers 7 times, lost 5 times, and tied once.
- The Thunder went 0-3 (0-1 at home, 0-2 on the road) against the Lakers last season.
- The last two meetings between the Thunder and the Lakers were overtime games in Los Angeles.