Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dominated for Oklahoma Metropolis in a recreation the place Lakers’ star Luka Doncic was ejected late within the contest.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 42 factors because the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder bounced again to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 136-120 in a hard-fought battle that noticed Luka Doncic controversially ejected within the fourth quarter.
Two days after struggling a 27-point defeat to the Lakers, the quantity one-ranked Thunder avenged that loss due to Gilgeous-Alexander’s thirteenth 40-point recreation of the season on Tuesday, with Jalen Williams including 26 and Luguentz Dort scoring 17.
The competition pivoted on the fourth-quarter incident that led to the Lakers’ Slovenian star Doncic choosing up a second technical foul and being faraway from the sport.
Doncic was ejected following a one-handed soar shot, which put the Lakers 108-107 up with 7:40 minutes remaining after officiating crew member JT Orr judged he had been verbally abused by the 26-year-old guard after making the basket.
Doncic protested, arguing he had merely been responding to a fan at courtside who had heckled him, however the resolution stood and clearly rattled the Lakers, permitting the Thunder to grab the initiative and draw back for the victory.
“It was an important recreation that sadly didn’t get the end that I feel each basketball fan would need due to some decision-making on some people’ components,” Lakers coach JJ Redick mentioned.
LeBron James, who completed with 28 factors, was at a loss to elucidate teammate Doncic’s ejection.
“I don’t know why the ref was taking it private,” James instructed reporters. “The ref took it upon himself to suppose it was versus him. The sport was simply bizarre as hell after that.”
Doncic insisted he had not been trash-talking Orr. “It was nothing to do with the ref, so I didn’t actually perceive it,” Doncic mentioned. “It was powerful, however you recognize that’s on me too. I can’t let my crew down like that.”
The Lakers stay in third place with a 48-31 document and must win two of their remaining three common season fixtures to lock in third seeding within the Western Convention playoffs.
