The Los Angeles Lakers were beaten by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA on Thursday while Steph Curry and Klay Thompson helped the Golden State Warriors overcome the Los Angeles Clippers. LeBron James says the Lakers “don’t have our group yet” as they continue to battle injury issues. The Detroit Pistons suffered a franchise-record 14th straight loss.
Lebron James of the Los Angeles Lakers
Image credit: Getty Images
LeBron James says he has “no idea” who the Los Angeles Lakers are this season after they finished a four-game road stretch with defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder.The Lakers were beaten 133-110 to fall to 11-9 in the overall standings.They have had injury issues to contend with and against the Thunder were without Rui Hachimura, Cam Reddish, Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaxson Hayes.
Anthony Davis has also been playing through an injury.“I have no idea what we are,” James said after the loss to the Thunder.“How? We don’t have a group yet. I know what some of us individually are, but as far as a team, we don’t have our group yet. I don’t know.“I thought we played really good ball [in] our first quarter. But after that you could start seeing the three in four nights, the back-to-back, the bodies that we don’t have start to wear on us, especially versus a young team like OKC.”Davis top scored with the Lakers with 31 points and 14 rebounds, while James had 21 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.The Lakers took a 37-30 lead into the second quarter but couldn’t maintain their good start as the Thunder came out on top.Despite the result, James added: “I mean, we’re over .500. We’re 11-9 with literally not ever having our same group.
“That’s pretty impressive.”The 133 points given up to the Thunder is the second highest the Lakers have allowed this season after the 138 conceded against Philadelphia earlier in the week.Lakers’ Austin Reaves said: “Any back-to-back is tough. Especially when you’re playing a young, talented team like OKC that shot the ball really well tonight.“They play the game the right way. They’re well coached. And they play for one another. So you’re going to have to make multiple efforts on the defensive end, scramble more than usual and it’s tough. But that’s not an excuse. We have to be better.”The Golden State Warriors held off the Los Angeles Clippers 120-114 behind strong efforts from Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.Thompson scored 10 straight points during a fourth-quarter stretch while Curry had 26 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.Coach Steve Kerr said of Thompson: “It felt like the game rewarded him for just continuing to fight and not worrying about anything.
“He kept shooting and the ball kind of bounced his way. That’s the Klay that I expect really the rest of the year.”Kawhi Leonard had a team-high 23 points for the Clippers.The Detroit Pistons slumped to a franchise-record 16th consecutive loss.The Pistons were beaten 118-112 by the New York Knicks to complete the entire month of November without a win. Their last victory was on October 28.The San Antonio Spurs also saw their losing run extended to 13 games as they were beaten 137-135 by the Atlanta Hawks.
The Spurs led by 15 points early in the game and four heading into the final period.But a season-high 45 points from Trae Young helped the Hawks to victory.Victor Wembanyama had 21 points and 12 rebounds.