Shai Gilgeous-Alexander moves late as the Thunder lead the Lakers

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander moves late as the Thunder lead the Lakers

NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles LakersNovember 29, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Dalton Knecht (4) shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory attribution: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 36 points, nine assists and six rebounds to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 101-93 road victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in an NBA Cup game on Friday.

The Thunder improved to 2-1 in West Group B, while the Lakers, the reigning NBA Cup champions, fell to 2-2.

Jalen Williams added 19 points, Luguentz Dort finished with 14 points and Isaiah Hartenstein added 11 points and a season-high 18 rebounds for the Thunder, who have won four in a row.

Rookie Dalton Knecht led Los Angeles with 20 points, D’Angelo Russell added 17 points off the bench and Anthony Davis had 15 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks for the Lakers, who have lost four of five. LeBron James finished the game with 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists and Austin Reeves added 11 points in the loss.

Gilgeous-Alexander took over late and scored 15 points in the final frame. He hit a 3-pointer with 1:35 left to give Oklahoma City a 95-91 lead. Max Christie hit a turnaround jumper in the lane with 39.9 seconds left, cutting the Lakers’ deficit to 95-93.

Gilgeous-Alexander responded with two free throws and then Williams Reaves stole the ball inbounds and secured a fastbreak dunk to seal the win.

Oklahoma City, which shot 40.9 percent from the floor, scored 20 points on Los Angeles’ 17 turnovers.

The Thunder hit seven of their first nine shots to take a 15-6 lead with 7:43 left in the first quarter and a 32-24 lead in the second quarter.

Los Angeles scored the first seven points of the second quarter and cut its deficit to one. The Lakers eventually took a 46-45 lead with 1:12 left in the first half after Davis hit a shot inside. Gilgeous-Alexander and Kenrich Williams hit back-to-back three-pointers just before halftime to send Oklahoma City into halftime with a 51-48 lead.

–Field level media

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