EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Lakers apparently love these overtime games against lesser teams.
That’s two in a row now, both at Staples Center, and both ending in Lakers wins, albeit with heavy minutes for LeBron James.
The Lakers defense finally showed up Monday as the Oklahoma City Thunder scored a mere two points in overtime of the Lakers’ 119-112 victory.
James was the focal point on a night without Anthony Davis, who sat out because of tendonosis in his right Achilles.
James didn’t look weary in his 43 minutes, cooking up 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists while setting a record for the most triple-doubles after turning 35 years old. James now has nine and passed Jason Kidd, a present-day Lakers assistant coach.
“He’s all right,” veteran guard Wesley Matthews said jokingly.
“He’s LeBron James. He’s just special,” added starting guard Dennis Schröder.
James, 36, needed every number in his stat line as Oklahoma City inflicted plenty of damage on the Lakers with little-known young players named Darius Bazley and Hamidou Diallo, along with help from the equally young but more established Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
James played 46 minutes two nights earlier and had 33 points and 11 assists as the Lakers beat Detroit in double overtime.
Gilgeous-Alexander had the gaudiest game Monday for Oklahoma City, but none of his 29 points and 10 assists came in overtime as the Thunder (10-13) tailed off badly.
The Lakers were lucky Matthews (16 points) returned to the rotation after sitting out four games via the dreaded DNP-Coach’s Decision.
He looked plenty fresh Monday, making four of five three-point shots while his teammates were a ragged five for 33 from long distance (15.1%).
It was a rare off night for the Lakers’ shooters this season. They were the NBA’s fifth-best team from three-point range before Monday’s game.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had a quiet eight points and also committed a costly mistake with 1.2 seconds left in regulation, fouling Gilgeous-Alexander on a three-point attempt. The 22-year-old guard made all three free throws and the game headed to overtime after James missed a 28-foot three-point shot.
It was all Lakers in the overtime as the Thunder missed seven of eight shots.
Not to be ignored, Montrezl Harrell had 21 points and Schröder added 19 points and five assists for the Lakers (19-6). Schröder was especially effective late in regulation against his former team, scoring seven points and handing out three assists in the final 5:19 of the fourth quarter.
Davis’ Achilles soreness was downplayed by Lakers Coach Frank Vogel before the game, saying it was “nothing to really be concerned about.”
It was unclear if Davis or Alex Caruso (strained right hand) would suit up when the Lakers played Oklahoma City again Wednesday, also at Staples Center.