Luka Doncic and the Lakers dominate in victory on the NBA Thunder

Oklahoma City – The after-season road that Lakers probably want to pass through Oklahoma City at some point, the best undisputed team of the Western Conference after playing at the top with a level of versatile excellence rarely seen.

And the Lakers, before the last week of the regular season, have either good fortune or the curse of having to test themselves against the team with the best record of the NBA.

At worst, the Thunder matches could expose the weaknesses of the Lakers. Oklahoma City is younger and hungry with more size at the edge, capitalizing on the advantages that Lakers will have trouble overcoming.

But when the Lakers are at their best – and Whoa, they were certainly at their best Sunday – they can prove to everyone, in particular to themselves, that their combination of individual offensive talents from another world and versatile defense and shunting can maintain the most talented teams.

From shooting at the start of red to full-fledged focus, the Lakers marked themselves as full-fledged contenders in the West by dominating the Thunder 126-99 in a daring and daring declaration victory.

“We know that this is the last section of the full season, so we just try to accumulate great habits,” said LeBron James.

This, more great players, is a proven combination.

Luka Dononic, who eliminated the Thunder of the playoffs last season on the way to the NBA final, has become deep into her skills bag, turning around defenders, pulling passes on his head and sparing and spitting the best defense of the Thunder League.

He scored 30 points and collected six assists, but more importantly, he helped unravel the defense of the perimeter of Oklahoma City.

“Luka was spectacular,” said James.

Austin Reaves, who cemented as one of the most important players of the Lakers alongside Douteic and Lebron James, opened another burning game from three points while doing an admirable job on the chief of the MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Reaves scored 20 and Gilgeous-Alexander had 26 points, but it was rarely easy in his buckets.

And James, who found part of his defensive form after an injury to the groin, scored 19 points, but more importantly helped organize the Lakers against the stellar support casting of the Thunder, including Chet Holmgren 7 feet 1 inch, which only scored 10 points.

The Lakers (48-30) answered the biggest questions to cancel one of the largest Thunder forces. The Lakers fought for loose bullets, they extended the goods to the offensive glass and they limited their errors.

And when the Thunder (64-14) pushed, and they did it, Dorian Finney-Smith or Gabe Vincent helped to quickly turn off the spark.

As they did in an eruption victory in Denver earlier this season, the Lakers showed that when they played their best, other teams will have to be at the top of their match to stop them. Against the Thunder, the Lakers took control by scoring 42 points at the first quarter and led by at least 10 points the rest of the path.

“Very committed to what we were trying to do defensively and very committed to the place where we had the impression of being able to generate good shots offensively against a formidable defense,” said Lakers coach, JJ Redick. “And there was no lip for that. There was no excessive reaction.”

Since the trade Doncic, Lakers have won victories against nuggets, rockets and Thunder, transforming strong defensive performance in each. And the Lakers incredibly fired the ball on Sunday – they made a top of 22 points to three points – because other games of their match plan have also been set up.

“We know that they are very good at one, to enter painting, to attract a lot,” said James. “They are doing a great job to get (at) the line of free throws. They do a great job to get offensive rebounds at the second chance points and these are some of the controls you control. ”

The Lakers kept thunder out of the glass, exceeding nine years. The Lakers scored 10 points more in the second chance, and when they took control of the match, they did not give it up. And Oklahoma City only drew 12 free throws, with Gilgeous-Alexander not trying for the first time since December 18, 2021.

Lakers now have the opportunity to try to start again on Tuesday, although they were a little crazy about their plans to manage the game, because they will play on Wednesday in the first Dallas match in Dallas.

“Nothing in stone,” said Redick for Lakers’ plans on Tuesday. “Once again, it’s throughout the day.”

And Sunday was a good one.