Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Postgame Grades and Analysis
With Kevin Durant out, Russell Westbrook once again proved capable of carrying the load in a 104-103 win for the Oklahoma City Thunder over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Westbrook dominated the game offensively, scoring 31 points on 9-of-22 shooting and dishing out a game-high 10 assists. Every time the Lakers drew close, Westbrook was there with a much-needed score.
Opposite Westbrook was Kobe Bryant, who struggled mightily with his shot in a 3-of-15 performance that included a missed jumper that would've won the game.
He impacted the game in other ways, though, nearly notching a triple-double with nine points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
| Russell Westbrook | A |
| Serge Ibaka | B- |
| Reggie Jackson | A- |
| Steven Adams | B- |
| Rest of Team | C- |
| Kobe Bryant | C- |
| Ed Davis | A |
| Nick Young | D+ |
| Ronnie Price | B |
| Rest of Team | B |
Oklahoma City Thunder
Russell Westbrook: A
Westbrook has been tantamount to a one-man wrecking crew this season, doing anything and everything OKC needs. That's been especially true in the games Kevin Durant has missed.
Durant was out Friday with an ankle injury, opening the door for Westbrook to carry the offense himself. The explosive guard finished the game with 31 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and a crucial jumper late in the fourth quarter.
Serge Ibaka: B-
Serge Ibaka had an inefficient game offensively, taking 17 shots to get his 16 points. He settled for a few too many jumpers and his percentage suffered because of it.
It was a different story on the other end, though. He was aggressive defensively and on the boards, leading to seven rebounds and five blocks.
Reggie Jackson: A-
Reggie Jackson combined with Westbrook to form a terrifying duo for which the Lakers had no answers. No one could stay in front of Jackson, as he shot 9-of-15 from the field for 25 points.
On defense, he wasn't quite as spectacular, struggling to contain Jeremy Lin's drives or force Wayne Ellington off the three-point line.
Steven Adams: B-
As always, Steven Adams pestered the opposition, playing a physical brand of defense and relentlessly attacking the boards on both ends.
He finished with 10 rebounds and nine points but raw box scores don't always measure his impact. It's often the way he clogs the paint or just generally frustrates the opposition that makes him valuable.
Rest of Team: C-
The only other contributor who did much for the Thunder was Andre Roberson, who scored 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting. He nailed two threes, doubling his season total.
Perry Jones was the fifth starter, but scored zero points on 0-of-2 shooting in just 12 minutes.
After that, there really wasn't any production off the bench, which highlighted a problem that could plague the Thunder throughout the year.
Los Angeles Lakers
Kobe Bryant: C-
Bryant looked fatigued from pretty much the opening tip, holding his head down after bad possessions and often not even trying to get back defensively.
On offense, he clearly lacked the lift he typically gets on his jumpers, as most of his shots came up short. That was painfully clear on the potential game-winner he missed as time expired.
Bryant made up for his struggles to some extent by doing a good job of distributing the ball. He was hunting for his shot less than he usually does on the way to his eight assists.
Ed Davis: A
Byron Scott moved Ed Davis into the starting lineup over Carlos Boozer for defensive purposes. Friday, it looked like the move may have been for Davis' offense.
He was active around the rim, finishing when teammates set him up or off of offensive rebounds. His touch inside helped him score 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting, and his hustle led to nine rebounds and two blocks.
Nick Young: D+
Nick Young has been the Lakers' spark off the bench for most of the season, but he did it with something other than points against the Thunder.
During the second half, he took exception to what appeared to be a clean screen by Steven Adams and threw an elbow to Adams' throat. The move got him tossed from the game, but it apparently fired up his teammates, as they immediately went on a run.
He wound up with 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting in just 13 minutes.
Ronnie Price: B
Ronnie Price made his way into the starting lineup at the same time as Davis, and for the same reasons. And like Davis, it was his offense that stood out against the Thunder.
He scored 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting, doing all of his damage in the first quarter. He stayed quiet the rest of the game, but his barrage to start the game helped set the tone early.
Rest of Team: B
The Lakers got some great contributions off the bench from former starters Jeremy Lin and Carlos Boozer.
The former looked confident on his drives, creating scoring opportunities for both himself and his teammates. He finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Boozer, meanwhile, got going late and scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds.
Jordan Hill also reached double figures, scoring 10 points in just 21 minutes.
Coming Up Next
The Lakers' next game will be on the road, against the Sacramento Kings, Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. The Thunder will get the New Orleans Pelicans at home, Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.
Andy Bailey covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him @AndrewDBailey.
