The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered their second close loss in a row on Tuesday night when they went blow for blow in a defensive battle with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Timberwolves are at the top of the Western Conference standings, and while OKC has dropped a couple of spots in the standings, they have proven that they can play with the best teams in the league.
On Thursday night, the Thunder are looking to get back on the winning side of basketball as they host the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers have been very up and down so far this season on their way to an 11-8 record, and they are fresh off a 133-107 thrashing of the Detroit Pistons last night on the road. Tonight’s matchup in OKC will mark the fourth consecutive road game in 6 nights for the Lakers, so they might be a little tired and struggle with the youth of the Thunder.
Game Details
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
Game Notes: Oklahoma City Thunder Official Game Notes, Los Angeles Lakers Official Game Notes
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SG: Josh Giddey
- SF: Luguentz Dort
- PF: Jalen Williams
- C: Chet Holmgren
Lakers
- PG: D’Angelo Russell
- SG: Cam Reddish
- SF: Taurean Prince
- PF: Lebron James
- C: Anthony Davis
Injury Report
Thunder
- Ousmane Dieng is OUT (G League — on assignment).
- Keyontae Johnson is OUT (G League — two-way).
Lakers
- Max Christie is QUESTIONABLE (left calf contusion).
- Anthony Davis is PROBABLE (left adductor; hip spasm).
- Rui Hachimura is OUT (nasal fracture).
- Jaxson Hayes is QUESTIONABLE (left elbow soreness).
- Lebron James is QUESTIONABLE (left calf contusion).
- Cam Reddish is QUESTIONABLE (right groin soreness).
- Jarred Vanderbilt is OUT (bursitis in left heel).
- Gabe Vincent is OUT (left knee effusion).
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 27-25 against the Lakers (14-11 at home, 13-14 on the road).
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder has won the season series against the Lakers 7 times, lost 6 times, and tied it twice.
- The Thunder went 1-2 (0-1 at home, 1-1 on the road) against the Lakers last season.