LeBron James leads Lakers to beat Thunder again in overtime

LOS ANGELES – LeBron James scored the tying 3-pointer late in regulation and then broke the Thunder’s final possession in overtime to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to their sixth straight win, 114-113, over Oklahoma City on Wednesday night. (Thursday, Manila time).

James scored 25 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the defending NBA champions, who survived their third straight overtime game. Montrezl Harrell scored 20 points and Dennis Schröder had 19 points and seven rebounds.

Al Horford scored 25 points and Kenrich Williams had a career-high 24 for the Thunder, who excelled at the Staples Center despite having only eight players available for consecutive narrow losses to the defending NBA champions.

James hit a tying 3-pointer with 19.6 seconds left in regulation, and Wesley Matthews hit a tie-breaking 3-pointer for the Lakers with 41.4 seconds remaining in overtime.

PHOTO: AP

After Luguentz Dort made a layup, James took a long jump to give Oklahoma City one last shot with 4.3 seconds left, but James anticipated the Thunder’s outfield pass and threw it into the backcourt, leaving the Thunder. no time to get a pass. good shot.

Both teams were significantly understaffed. The Thunder played without top scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has a bothersome left knee injury.

Anthony Davis missed his second straight game with the Lakers with an Achilles tendon problem, and key backup Alex Caruso also missed his second straight game with an injured hand.

Oklahoma City was never behind in the first 43 minutes of regulation time, but after Dort put the Thunder back ahead on a three-point play with 49 seconds left, James coldly played his triple to tie. Dort missed a 3 just before the regulation bell.

Williams was exceptional at the start of his third start for the Thunder, scoring 11 points in the first half and 11 more in the third quarter to beat his previous career record.

PHOTO: AP

TIPS

Thunder: Gilgeous-Alexander was out for the third time in five games. … Mike Muscala came back from a one-game absence with a concussion and scored six points.

Lakers: Caruso went through a long training session before the game before deciding to rest. … Davis has missed five of the Lakers’ 26 games.

UNTIL NEXT TIME

Thunder: On the Nuggets on Friday.

Lakers: Host the Grizzlies on Friday.

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