The Oklahoma City Thunder, currently leading the Western Conference, are set to face the Los Angeles Lakers in an NBA Cup group-stage game on Friday. Riding a three-game winning streak, the Thunder are eyeing a perfect road trip and a chance to advance in the in-season tournament.
Oklahoma City holds a 1-1 record in West Group B and must secure wins over the Lakers and Utah Jazz (at home on Tuesday) to stay in contention for the knockout round. Tiebreaking scenarios could still come into play.
The Lakers, defending NBA Cup champions, have a slimmer path to advance. They must defeat the Thunder and hope the Phoenix Suns lose to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.
Thunder’s Recent Form
The Thunder are coming off a hard-fought 105-101 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the team with 35 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter. Oklahoma City overcame injuries to key players, including Chet Holmgren (hip) and Alex Caruso (hip), both of whom will miss Friday’s game. Jalen Williams also left Wednesday’s game with an eye injury but is expected to play.
Isaiah Hartenstein contributed a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Despite their efforts, the Thunder shot only 31.6% in the final quarter.
Lakers’ Comeback Victory
The Lakers snapped a three-game losing streak on Wednesday with a 119-101 win over the Spurs. Rookie Dalton Knecht scored a team-high 20 points, hitting four three-pointers, while Anthony Davis added 19 points and 14 rebounds. LeBron James recorded his sixth triple-double of the season, with 16 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds at age 39.
“I’m very proud of our group,” said Lakers rookie head coach JJ Redick. “The response was great. It’s what I talked about before the game—letting go of the recent past and focusing on the next challenge.”
James, approaching his 40th birthday, has maintained impressive season averages of 22.9 points, 9.3 assists, and 8.2 rebounds without missing a game. Knecht has also been impactful, averaging 11.7 points with three 20-point performances.
The Lakers have only lost once in two seasons of the NBA’s in-season tournament, with their sole defeat occurring against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.