LOS ANGELES (AP) Kevin Durant plus Russell Westbrook equally recognise many people weren't experiencing the actual Los Angeles Lakers exactly who recently won a good NBA title. They were not perhaps confronting full talent belonging to the Lakers' latest roster, which usually has not gotten to obtain a lot on top of .500 all season.
Running the particular Lakers beyond their particular creating continue to thinks really good, though.
Durant have scored a season-high 42 points, Westbrook possessed 27 points plus twelve assists, and also the Oklahoma City Thunder quickly sent the short-handed Lakers with their sixth straight loss, 116-101 on Friday night.
Kevin Martin obtained 15 things as well as click three 3-pointers for the Thunder, that romped to your 27-point lead inside second half. Oklahoma City features won seven connected with nine, while Los Angeles can be on it's first six-game skid seeing that March 2007 even though enjoying without injured actors Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol.
Oklahoma City (28-8) matched the Clippers for your NBA's ideal report plus the Thunder manufactured it appear easy with a virtuoso game from Durant, which had 38 factors midway from the next quarter.
"Coming in here, it is really tough for you to earn regardless what," Durant was adamant following the Thunder coasted down your stretch. "We did a terrific job regarding simply just playing mutually with both equally concludes involving the actual flooring almost all night and never taking all those individuals lightly. They've got a pair of in the most effective online players on this planet out, thus many of us merely wished to turn out and have the best game."
They possessed more than a excellent game. Durant click three 3-pointers along with his usual assortment involving casual game each time he wanted, even though Westbrook done three rebounds afraid of a triple-double even though actively playing below 35 minutes.
The Thunder exclusively had three scorers inside 2 bottle figures, nevertheless that is additional when compared with enough.
Westbrook, a Los Angeles native, offers no sympathy to the Lakers.
"They're not necessarily done. They have a lot more online games left, plus I'm really sure they will discover a route to obtain it together," Westbrook said. "Our position could be to fear of your company along with our own organization. It wasn't easy. I only imagine most of us managed an excellent employment associated with trying to play team golf ball defensively, and it showed. Kevin required manage almost all game."
Kobe Bryant scored 28 details as well as Antawn Jamison added 19 however Los Angeles appeared lost as well as overmatched with it is lastly immediately video game not having Howard plus Gasol.
The Thunder removed Bryant along with that Lakers out of last season's playoffs around five games, nonetheless Los Angeles includes revealed several signs of becoming capable to completely overcome your protecting Western Conference champions that season. Injuries may not be the only problem, nevertheless Howard likely is out with friends pertaining to no less than yet another week using a make injury, while Gasol even now were satisfied to go back from his concussion.
"We're just very discouraged plus upset about what we are under-going suitable now, along with exactly how we're playing," Bryant said. "We're planning to have got to produce many significant adjustments if we could visiting end up being successful. We gave up regarding 120 points tonight, including a many all of them have been simply layups and also easy appears on the rim."
Steve Nash had eleven points in addition to seven helps inside a quiet 30 minutes for that Lakers, which released throughout the subsequent quarter in which back-up massive man Jordan Hill most likely demands season-ending surgical procedures with their still left hip. Metta World Peace added in 12 points, proceeding 1 pertaining to in search of upon 3-point attempts.
"We confirmed several fight, nevertheless we all merely have been somewhat overmatched," Nash said. "They're even larger in comparison with individuals at every position. Kevin got hot, along with we wouldn't have your ex boyfriend in the second quarter. As the overall game applied on, I just think the variation in depth plus high quality took over."
The Lakers (15-21) hadn't missing this specific countless consecutive games because 12 months prior to these people bought Gasol plus embarked with a manage to be able to three straight NBA finals. With Cleveland in addition to Milwaukee touring over the next a number of days, the particular Lakers have got a an opportunity to get competitive once again nonetheless they're confronting an uphill clamber simply to start playoff contention.
"I instructed the actual team, the greatest matter is some of our season commences Sunday," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "We've got a chance to make a run. We've became a single taken at it, and also everybody should prepare in your head in addition to physically. From generally there on, i cannot create any further wrong steps. That's simply the best way the item is. We put ourselves throughout this ditch, and also we're really the only ones which will comprehend it out, along with ideally you can receive sime good folks back along with start out our season Sunday."
Durant have scored 16 things throughout the 2nd quarter, capped by way of 3-pointer with 0.2 mere seconds still left in advance of halftime. Along with predictable defensive battles in opposition to Durant in addition to Westbrook, Los Angeles not so great it is first 12 3-point ones prior to Nash connected midway throughout the third.
NOTES: Before the game, Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, proclaimed which they have labeled away their divorce proceedings. Vanessa Bryant filed for breakup in December 2011. . The competitors satisfy again at Staples Center on Jan. 27. Oklahoma City additionally outings to handle that Clippers upon Jan. 22. . Charlize Theron, Adam Sandler, Robin Thicke, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Mehmet Oz and Chad Johnson observed the particular online game from courtside.
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