Lakers vs Thunder Preview: Not These Guys Again

Maybe the Lakers won’t lose by 30 this time around against the Thunder

The Los Angeles Lakers have been embarrassed twice already in the 2015-16 NBA season by the Oklahoma City Thunder, losing by 40 and 35 points in those first two matchups, respectively. However, the Lakers will look to keep things much closer on Friday night as they take the national stage to take on the Thunder once more at STAPLES Center.

The Lakers are on the second night of a back-to-back after falling to the Sacramento Kings on the road on Thursday night in thrilling fashion thanks to the heroic second-half efforts of rookie point guard D’Angelo Russell. Unfortunately, though, Russell’s run was ended when he turned his ankle, a sprain that makes his status for the Friday night matchup with OKC uncertain.

Thursday night also marked the return of Kobe Bryant to the lineup after he had missed three games with a sore shoulder. He performed well in the box score, but the Lakers climbed back into the game once Kobe went to the bench and the young core of Russell, Jordan Clarkson, and Julius Randle were able to take charge. It’s almost like that’s a great idea that head coach Byron Scott should try more often if he wasn’t stuck in the dark ages of NBA coaching styles.

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However, most of this is irrelevant because, even if Russell takes the floor and the young guys dominate the rotation for the Lakers, the Thunder have a pronounced advantage from top to bottom on the roster. The Lakers simply don’t have an answer for the likes of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook (not that anyone in the NBA really does).

What’s worse, though, is that even role players for the Thunder have burned Los Angeles in their previous matchups this season. Enes Kanter enjoyed some of his best games of the year with his fluidity taking Roy Hibbert’s lumbering defending to the woodshed.

All in all, the Lakers could still save a bit more face and not lose by close to a half-century this time out. However, it’s best for the sanity of fans if they go ahead and accept that this one isn’t going to pretty for the Lakers.

Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Lakers

Date: Friday, Jan. 8
Start Time: 7:30 p.m. PT
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Arena: STAPLES Center
TV Info: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: Here

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Thunder -14.5
Moneyline: Thunder -2600, Lakers +1000
O/U: 209.5

Injury Report

Los Angeles Lakers: D’Angelo Russell (ankle)—Questionable, Kobe Bryant (shoulder)—Probable

Oklahoma City Thunder: None to report

Prediction

The Lakers may have put up a ton of fight behind a strong effort from Russell and the young players in Sacramento on Thursday night, but on the second night of a back-to-back against a Thunder team that has already thrashed them on two separate occasions, this doesn’t look good. Hopefully the Lakers show a little more fight than in the two previous meetings, but I wouldn’t count on it.

Next: 3 Takeaways From Lakers' Loss to Kings

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