The Los Angeles Lakers looked like they could be blown out early, down 20-8 to start the first quarter. After mounting an impressive comeback midway through the 1st quarter, the Lakers surged ahead and didn’t look back. Los Angeles outscored the Oklahoma City Thunder 44-23 on their way to a nine-point halftime lead. Despite the Thunder’s youthful energy, the Lakers’ physicality and size proved overwhelming as Los Angeles secured a decisive 116-104 win Monday night. Los Angeles’ commanding victory over the Thunder sheds light on the Lakers’ five key strengths and the team’s potential heading into the postseason.
1. D’Angelo Russell Becoming Lakers Third Star
D’Angelo Russell sank three consecutive three-pointers, igniting the crowd and extending the Lakers’ lead to 103-79 with 9:02 remaining in the game. Coach Darvin Ham praised Russell’s clutch moments, highlighting his extraordinary talent and crucial role in the team’s success. Russell’s stellar performance, tallying 26 points, six rebounds, four steals, and five three-pointers, marked the first time a Laker achieved such numbers since the great Kobe Bryant in 2006. Austin Reaves on D’Angelo Russell after the game said, “The way he gets his buckets in spurts like that, it’s a beautiful thing to see. As soon as he got the ball, me and AD stood up. We knew it was going up even when he passed it. We knew Bron was gonna give it back to him.”
DLo makes the Lakers go BONKERS after WILD 3 ball 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xlTKwQ1nrA
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 5, 2024
2. Defensive Dominance Through Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis and D'Angelo Russell were the spark plugs in the Lakers' win over OKC!
AD: 24 PTS, 12 REB, 3 BLK
D'Lo: 26 PTS, 5 3PM, 6 REB pic.twitter.com/QMA7CcPan7— NBA (@NBA) March 5, 2024
The game’s most notable aspect was the Lakers’ defensive performance, which marked a significant improvement from recent outings. Despite an initial slow start, the Lakers tightened their defense, holding the Thunder to just 39% shooting from the field. Lakers coach Darvin Ham credited the Lakers’ resilience for their turnaround after a rough start, noting that it was their best defensive performance of the season. Key players such as Anthony Davis, LeBron James and Austin Reaves demonstrated their defensive prowess. Reaves impressively contained OKC’s MVP candidate guard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, to only 20 points on five of thirteen shootings from the field. Overall, the Lakers’ defensive effort showcased their potential to stifle opponents when fully engaged.
Anthony Davis and D'Angelo Russell have been on a tear since February 👀 pic.twitter.com/HogsmEaO6g
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) March 5, 2024
3. Role Players Positive Contributions
Another really good possession of individual defense, this time from Taurean Prince on JDub. Great contest. pic.twitter.com/qHWGINncsw
— Jason Timpf (@_JasonLT) March 5, 2024
The Lakers’ starters set the tone for the game. However, the win couldn’t have come without the contributions from the bench. Taurean Prince, who received a technical foul from the bench, stepped up with 14 points and six rebounds, showcasing his versatility and impact. Despite limited scoring output, Spencer Dinwiddie’s defensive contributions were crucial for the team’s success. In the game’s closing moments, Harry Giles III, a recent signee, made his debut for Los Angeles, contributing to the team’s convincing victory as the Lakers improved their record to 34-29.
Harry Giles III makes his Laker debut with this win all but wrapped up for LAL. pic.twitter.com/7uOWuU2r3U
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 5, 2024
4. Key Injuries Returning Soon
Darvin Ham says that the next updates on Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt should come next week.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) March 5, 2024
The Lakers continue their campaign for playoff contention. Since January 7th, they have boasted a commendable 17-10 record, ranking seventh in the league over that span. The bench’s performance becomes increasingly important in maintaining momentum and providing valuable depth as the team awaits the return of key players such as Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Christian Wood. Shams Charania recently updated that “Gabe Vincent is doing more and more on the court.” He added, “Barring any setbacks, his hope is still mid to late March to get back in the lineup for the Lakers.”
Important note on the sideline: Jarred Vanderbilt is no longer wearing that walking boot.
— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) March 5, 2024
5. Los Angeles Lakers Favorable Matchups for Playoffs
The Los Angeles Lakers clinched a 3-1 season series victory over the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder through a physical style of play, capitalizing on their size, power, and veteran experience to outmuscle and out-rebound the youthful Thunder. Their aggressive approach earned them almost 50 points in the paint and a significant advantage on the defensive boards in Monday night’s win. D’Angelo Russell acknowledged the team’s strategy to exploit the Thunder’s weakness on the glass, as in the previous night’s game where the Suns Center Jusuf Nurkić had an impressive 31 rebounds against OKC.
Jusuf Nurkic finished tonight's game with 31 rebounds 🤯
▪️ Suns franchise record for most rebounds in a game
▪️ Most rebounds by any player since the 2010-11 NBA season pic.twitter.com/PUYO2tUMo2— NBA (@NBA) March 4, 2024
The win over OKC propels LA into ninth place in the West. Anthony Davis said after the game, “We don’t really care what seed we’re in. We proved it last year; it doesn’t matter. It’s just about getting in and tackling each opponent from there.” The Lakers set their sights on a crucial matchup against the Sacramento Kings. A victory would bring them within half a game of Sacramento, positioning them for a potential climb up the Western Conference standings.
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