Thunder at Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers will be without star forward LeBron James for the fourth straight game when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday. Los Angeles is 1-2 without James, who injured his left groin in a Christmas Day rout of the Golden State Warriors.
The Lakers recorded their first win without James on Sunday, when they closed the game with an 18-4 burst to post a 121-114 victory over the visiting Sacramento Kings. "When we feel comfortable on the basketball court it gives us a better chance to win," Los Angeles small forward Brandon Ingram told reporters. "We just continue to show growth in tight situations we are in." Oklahoma City split a home-and-home with the Dallas Mavericks, beginning with a 105-103 loss in Dallas before recovering to notch a 122-102 home rout on Monday. "When you keep it simple, it makes the game easier for everybody else, not just myself," Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook told reporters after registering his 114th career triple-double. "Keeping it simple is something that I've strived to learn over the course of the years."
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, FS Oklahoma, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE THUNDER (23-13): Westbrook was a horrid 4-of-22 shooting - missing all eight 3-point attempts - for nine points in the loss against Dallas but was back in star mode the following night with 32 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for his 10th triple-double of the season. He made 13-of-24 overall shots and was 9-of-15 on mid-range jumpers and decided to bank a few in off the glass. "It's an easy shot," Westbrook told reporters. "If I happen to be in that area I'm going to shoot the same shot. Why do anything different if they keep giving you the same shot, then take it."
ABOUT THE LAKERS (21-16): Ingram recorded a season-best nine assists against the Kings and was part of the fourth-quarter charge when he scored nine of his 21 points in the period. "He seemed to have a joy about him playing that, when he has it, it's a lot of fun to watch," Lakers coach Luke Walton told reporters. "Whether it's practice or a game, that's where we have to get to." Guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was superb with season bests of 26 points and five 3-pointers and tallied 17 points in the second half.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The teams split last season's four meetings.
2. Oklahoma City SF Paul George topped 20 points in each of his last 11 appearances, including seven efforts of more than 30 points, as he faces the team he once wanted to join before re-signing with the Thunder.
3. Los Angeles G Josh Hart scored a season-best 22 points against Sacramento.