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box score | Silver Screen & Roll
The Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the fourth quarter in what had been a tight game almost the whole way to secure a 107-100 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Paul George dropped 37 points in his first game in Los Angeles against the Lakers since spurning the Lakers in free agency this past summer.
No team held larger than a seven point lead until late into the 4th quarter where the Thunder finished strong. OKC outscored LA 29-18 in the final frame after a slow start from both teams.
Terrance Ferguson took a shot from Tyson Chandler on what would be ruled a flagrant foul and was forced to leave the game. The foul happened right after he took a scary fall trying to block a shot. Keep an eye out for an injury report shortly.
Scary moment for Terrance Ferguson, who stayed on the ground for some time after a huge fall. pic.twitter.com/W8NzZ1n2BE
— ESPN (@espn) January 3, 2019
Both teams did not shoot well in the 1st quarter. Paul George picked up three quick fouls and forced Billy Donovan to take him out of the game. George would reenter the game midway through the 2nd quarter and wouldn’t look back. Despite being booed by Lakers fans the whole night, George dropped 37 points on 15-29 shooting to lead the Thunder.
Russell Westbrook’s shooting woes would continue after a quick hiatus against the Mavericks on Monday night. Westbrook shot 3-20 from the field but still managed to notch another triple double with 14 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists.
Westbrook is 2-18 and still impacting the game immensely. Shooting isn’t everything.
— Shane Steinkraus (@ShaneTrain23) January 3, 2019
George sealed the game for the Thunder shooting flagrant free throws for an injured Ferguson with LA fans chanting “we don’t need you.” The Lakers certainly could have used George on Wednesday night as the team shot just 41.6 percent from the field and 25.9 percent from three-point land.
The Thunder improved to 24-13, good for 3rd place in the western conference standings and only one game out of 1st place. The Lakers fall to 21-17 and, as of now, hold on to the eight slot in the West.
Oklahoma City will play the second game of another ESPN double header on Friday night in Portland, Oregon, against a 5th place 22-16 Trail Blazers squad.
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