Lakers at Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder aren't building momentum for a postseason run as they have dropped seven of their past nine games. The Thunder will look to begin a turnaround when they host the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday in the fourth contest of a five-game homestand.
Oklahoma City is 1-2 on the homestand after shooting just 38.8 percent from the field in a 106-103 loss on Sunday to the Dallas Mavericks, who were without rookie sensation Luka Doncic. "We just got to continue to work," All-Star forward Paul George told reporters afterward. "Last thing is what we're not going to do is get down on the situation. Fact of the matter is, we're still playing past April 10. Again, these games are just a fine tune." The Lakers are down to five games remaining in a highly disappointing season that represents their sixth straight season of missing the playoffs. Los Angeles, which is holding out forward LeBron James for the rest of the campaign, routed the host New Orleans Pelicans 130-102 on Sunday night for its fourth win in the past five games.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT, Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles), FS Oklahoma
ABOUT THE LAKERS (35-42): Backup point guard Alex Caruso is trying to display he can play a role next season and he was superb against the Pelicans with a career-best 23 points while sinking all four of his 3-point attempts. Caruso has played 20 games for Los Angeles in a campaign in which he has spent most of his time in the G-League and he is aware his play is being closely scrutinized. "Every game for me is a job application, is me going out there and showing this is where I'm supposed to be - I'm one of the best 350 to 400 players in the world and I want to be in this league," Caruso told reporters of the audition after Sunday's win. "I try to play as hard as I can, regardless of the situation. That's what I've tried to do my whole career. It's gotten me this far."
ABOUT THE THUNDER (44-33): Oklahoma City is suddenly struggling at home with seven setbacks in the last 10 outings after beginning the season with a 21-7 run. The Thunder are just 7-13 overall since the All-Star break and are battling the San Antonio Spurs for the seventh seed after looking like they were a possibility for a top-four seed and homecourt advantage in the first round prior to the collapse. All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook had 25 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists against Dallas his 30th triple-double of the season and 134th of his career.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Lakers posted a 138-128 overtime victory on Jan. 17 for just their sixth victory in 18 regular-season visits to Oklahoma City.
2. George scored 27 points against the Mavericks and topped 20 in nine of his past 10 appearances.
3. Los Angeles F Kyle Kuzma (foot) will likely miss his second straight game.