Jalen Williams scored 25 points, but Chet Holmgren and Josh Giddey both struggled offensively to a combined 17 points for the Thunder, who opened a key four-game swing against some of the West´s other top teams. Oklahoma City also faces the Clippers and the conference-leading Timberwolves on its trip.

James returned from his fourth missed game of the season due to injury and scored 17 points in the second half. His driving layup with 8:53 to play staked Los Angeles to the game´s first double-digit lead at 93-82.

The Thunder got within six on Gilgeous-Alexander’s dunk with 2:05 left, but James drove the lane and dished to Davis for a two-handed slam that essentially sealed the victory with 50 seconds to play.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams, right, reaches in on Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Los Angeles.

The Lakers are beginning a two-week stretch in which they won’t have to leave Los Angeles, and Davis said last weekend that this six-game sequence will be vital to their hopes of being a playoff contender. They’ve been stumbling since they won the inaugural In-Season Tournament in early December, unable to overcome a series of injuries or to generate consistent tertiary scoring around James and Davis.

Cam Reddish sat out with knee swelling, and the Lakers went back to a starting backcourt of Russell and Austin Reaves, who scored 15 points.

Davis´ aggressiveness and Holmgren´s early foul trouble contributed to a 64-44 advantage for the Lakers on points in the paint.

The Thunder and Lakers split two games in Oklahoma City earlier this season.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver attended the game one day before a scheduled news conference at the Los Angeles Clippers´ under-construction Intuit Dome in Inglewood, which could be announced as the host of the 2026 NBA All-Star weekend.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, left, and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey go after a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis celebrates after scoring during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Christian Wood, right, dunks as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, center, grapples for a rebound with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left, and forward Jarred Vanderbilt during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Los Angeles.