The Los Angeles Lakers (16-64) head to the Chesapeake Energy Arena on Monday night to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder (54-26).
With only two games remaining in the venerable Kobe Bryant's career, the Lakers will try to send out the surefire Hall of Famer on a winning note. They failed to do so in their latest contest on Sunday by a long shot, getting shellacked by the Houston Rockets 130-110. However, Bryant was spectacular by dropping 35 points, two rebounds, an assist and two steals. Jordan Clarkson filled out the stat sheet with 21 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Julius Randle tallied 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and a steal. Marcelo Huertas paced the bench with nine points, seven assists, two rebounds and a steal.
The Lakers are in last place in the Western Conference's Pacific Division, and have dropped nine of the last 10 games. They've also lost 12 consecutive road contests.
Oklahoma City was edged by the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night, 114-112. Although their postseason hopes have long been crushed, the Kings took on the third-seeded Thunder as if they had something to play for. The high-scoring, back-and-forth affair came down to the final seconds, as Rudy Gay was able to sink two free throws after a Serge Ibaka foul with less than a second remaining.On the Thunder's last-gasp possession, Russell Westbrook, who committed a game-high eight turnovers, missed a desperation 52-foot three-point heave that would have sent the game into overtime. Oklahoma City was led by Kevin Durant's 31 points, which he supplemented with eight assists and six rebounds. Westbrook was next with 24 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and a steal. Ibaka managed 14 points, eight rebounds and two steals. Enes Kanter paced the bench with 11 points, six rebounds and a steal.
The Thunder are in first place in the Western Conference's Northwest Division, and slotted in the third seed in the conference. They've lost three of the last four games, but have won five straight home contests.
The Thunder have prevailed in all three previous meetings between the teams this season. They blasted the Lakers in the previous game in Oklahoma City, 118-78. They were almost as dominant in the first return match in Los Angeles, 120-85, and then eeked out a narrow 117-113 decision in the second game at the Staples Center.
