Thunder vs. Lakers: Play-by-play, highlights and reactions

The Oklahoma City Thunder (24-57) play against the Los Angeles Lakers (49-49) at STAPLES Center

Game Time: 10:30 PM EDT on Friday April 8, 2022

Oklahoma City Thunder 101, Los Angeles Lakers 120 (Final)

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Mason Jones said the @SouthBayLakers coaching staff led by @milessimon was huge for him, developing his NBA mentality, to focus on more parts of his game than the scoring that comes naturally. He embraced his time in G (3rd in MVP voting) and said he got a lot better this year. – 1:30 AM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Mason Jones on getting called up to play for the Lakers tonight: “I was very excited for this opportunity.” – 1:21 AM Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
#Suns FTs last three games:
Suns 7-of-9 #Lakers 23-of-30 (W)
Suns 8-of-12 #Clippers 35-of-44 (L)
Suns 13-of-15 #Jazz 24-of-33 (W)
Total: Phoenix 28-of-36 (2-1 record)
Opponent: 82-of-107 – 1:16 AM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Way to work, fellas. #LakersWin pic.twitter.com/fWoeXIzull – 1:13 AM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Frank Vogel says Stanley Johnson has “made a case for himself” to be back with this team for sure. – 1:12 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Stanley Johnson was pleased w/how LAL played, happy with a win vs. OKC. For the season as a whole, this being the last home game: “It hurts … not good.” But he said that frustration has to be channeled into hard work in the offseason to get better, individually and collectively. – 1:09 AM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Got ’em.
#WeGotTacos 🌮🌮 @JackBox pic.twitter.com/XRZlV2wEAa – 1:05 AM Chris Biderman @TheWarriorsWire
After LeBron James listed Steph Curry as a player he wants to play with someday, the Golden State Warriors guard responded. warriorswire.usatoday.com/2022/04/07/ste… – 1:00 AM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
After watching the Lakers for 2 1/2 hours, LA shouldn’t be throwing Russell Westbrook under the bus, they should be throwing Russell Westbrook apologies from Jeanie Buss. – 12:59 AM Dave McMenamin @mcten
The Lakers snap their eight-game losing streak and beat the OKC Thunder on fan appreciation night 120-101. Eight of the nine LAL players to see court time scored in double digits. One more game. Sunday in Denver. – 12:55 AM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
OKC keeps sole possession of the #4 lottery odds.
At worst, OKC will tie the Pacers for the #4 odds.
At best, OKC can tie the Pistons for the #3 odds.
Thunder’s final game is Sunday night vs the Clippers. – 12:55 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Final: LAL 120, OKC 101.
Lakers win their home finale in a balanced effort with 8 players in double figures. Just one game left: at Denver on Sunday evening. – 12:55 AM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
Closing it out Sunday in LA pic.twitter.com/S5M5bd5Ar7 – 12:53 AM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Lakers get a W (no, really) and quite literally everyone that got on the floor contributed with 8 players scoring in double figures.
DJ Augustin was the only one who didn’t hit double digits, with 7 pts. But he also chipped in with 3 asts and 2 stls. – 12:53 AM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Eight players in double figures = #LakersWin
@Stanley Johnson: 21 pts, 8 reb
@Wenyen Gabriel: 16 pts, 7 reb
@Talen Horton-Tucker: 15 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast
@DwightHoward: 15 pts, 8 reb
@masonjones2: 13 pts
@AhmadMonk: 12 pts, 5 ast
Austin Reaves: 11 pts
@WayneEllington: 10 pts pic.twitter.com/HlAI08eKZW – 12:51 AM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Lawrence Tanter signs off on this year’s final Lakers home game by saying: “We will be stronger than ever next season.” – 12:50 AM Joe Mussatto @joe_mussatto
The Thunder played six guys tonight. Five of them played 43+ minutes. pic.twitter.com/JWUOEZmRPB – 12:50 AM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Final: Lakers 120, Thunder 101
The Lakers snap their eight-game losing streak and win their first game since March 21. They improve to 32-49. Stanley Johnson had 21 points and 8 rebounds. Wenyen Gabriel had 16 points.
Up next: the season finale in Denver on Sunday. – 12:49 AM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Jaylen Hoard signed a 10 day contract on April 1.
Hoard’s games the last 8 days:
27 points/17 rebounds/4 assists
23 points/5 rebounds/3 assists
24 points/21 rebounds/3 steals
4 points/4 rebounds/can’t all be winners
11 points/20 rebounds/2 blocks – 12:49 AM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
the Lakers won – 12:49 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
DJ Augustin is 3 points away from being the 9th Laker in double figures, joining the other eight guys who’ve played.
LAL lead 111-96 with 3:59 left in their home finale. – 12:38 AM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
gonna tell my grandkids this was the 2021-22 Lakers pic.twitter.com/GT6EF8qn82 – 12:34 AM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Make that 4-for-4 for Mason Jones.
#LakeShow 🤝 @SouthBayLakers pic.twitter.com/tSPuTG0s9u – 12:34 AM Joe Mussatto @joe_mussatto
Both Jaylen Hoard (25) and Georgios Kalaitzakis (24) have career highs in scoring. – 12:31 AM Bill Oram @billoram
The Lakers are leading by more points tonight than in any game since the loss in New Orleans two weeks back, when they led by 23. But then LeBron got hurt and the whole thing came crashing down. – 12:31 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
There are 8 Lakers in double figures in what’s been a balanced scoring effort against this (very) young OKC defense. – 12:30 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LAL’s biggest lead tonight is 13, at 99-86, after a Mason Jones and-1 in the paint.
Jones has 7 points in 15 minutes thus far on 3 of 3 FG’s, plus 3 boards, in his call up from the @SouthBayLakers. – 12:27 AM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
May I have this dance? 🩰
@zaviersimpson_3 | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/g4IPpfYcf6 – 12:26 AM Tony East @TEastNBA
What the hell did Mason Jones just do – 12:25 AM Joe Mussatto @joe_mussatto
Jaylen Hoard needs six more rebounds for his third 20-rebound game in the last week. – 12:22 AM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Balanced Attack
@Stanley Johnson: 17 pts
@Dwight Howard: 15 pts, 8 reb
@Talen Horton-Tucker: 11 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast
Austin Reaves: 11 pts pic.twitter.com/khuBhHWnLm – 12:21 AM StatMuse @statmuse
Who He Play For?
Vit Krejci
Zavier Simpson
Georgios Kalaitzakis
Jaylen Hoard
Melvin Frazier Jr. pic.twitter.com/BJKfgmnHyh – 12:21 AM Joe Mussatto @joe_mussatto
Jaylen Hoard and Georgios Kalaitzakis have combined for 47 of the Thunder’s 79 points. – 12:16 AM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Showtime Reunion for Cap’s birthday 👨‍ pic.twitter.com/ATW7jkHsxA – 12:16 AM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
Locked In 🔒
@OGandE Power Play of the Game pic.twitter.com/r96pN8ozdP – 12:14 AM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LAL take a 81-75 lead into a time out at the 2:51 mark of the 3rd Q, with Stanley Johnson converting a triple, just LAL’s 6th in 22 attempts tonight … the same as OKC’s total from 3. – 12:11 AM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Congratulations to Julio Aceves from Torrance, CA who just won a new Toyota Tundra at halftime in the @ToyotaSoCal Skills Challenge Finals! pic.twitter.com/xonpRmLr5J – 12:03 AM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
If you would’ve told me at the beginning of the season that the biggest obstacles to OKC landing Top 4 lottery odds would be Jaylen Hoard and Giorgis Kalaitzakis, I would’ve said yep that sounds about right. – 12:02 AM Ben Anderson @BensHoops
Jazz L’s
@ ORL (4th, 10)
vs. MEM (3rd, 10)
vs. NOP (2nd, 11)
vs. SAS (3rd, 16)
vs. WAS (1st 10)
@ TOR (3rd, 15)
@ DET (3rd, 10)
@ LAL (3rd, 10)
vs. HOU (3rd, 13)
@ LAL (4th, 12)
@ SAS (4th, 15)
vs. MIL (3rd, 11)
@ DAL (2nd, 11)
@ LAC (4th, 16)
@ GSW (4th, 16)
vs. PHO (4th, 17) – 11:59 PM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
O Captain! My Captain! 🪝
@zaviersimpson_3 | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/4kVjmd7J80 – 11:57 PM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Lakers celebrated Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 75th birthday at halftime.
The 7’2″ legend was the master of the sky hook.
OKC’s Zavier Simpson opens the second half with a sky hook.
The 6’0″ legend. – 11:56 PM Joe Mussatto @joe_mussatto
Isaiah Roby has five fouls. Who will the seventh man be? – 11:53 PM Bill Oram @billoram
Naturally this disastrous Lakers season ends (at home, at least) with Herbie Hancock leading a chorus of Hall of Famers in a singalong for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 75th birthday. – 11:49 PM Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Mavericks react to Luka’s 16th technical foul and the Los Angeles Lakers’ lost season.
mavs.com/mav-blazer-not… – 11:40 PM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Jaylen Hoard since signing his 10 day contract:
2 20 point games
2 20 rebound games
Hoard has 17 points and 9 rebounds at halftime. He could add to both those numbers tonight. – 11:39 PM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
at the half pic.twitter.com/ggH10sQLoz – 11:38 PM Joe Mussatto @joe_mussatto
It’s hard to take anything meaningful away from these last few games, but credit to Jaylen Hoard. He’s played well since getting the call. – 11:37 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Halftime at Home pic.twitter.com/OxQutHSjun – 11:36 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
It’s halftime of this basketball game: Lakers 56, Thunder 52. – 11:36 PM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
X marks the dot 🎯
@zaviersimpson_3 | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/LAsQusZc7f – 11:24 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
South Bay’s leading scorer with the and-1 💪 pic.twitter.com/luFPbt0WI4 – 11:21 PM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
The OKC Blue leads Russell Westbrook’s 2022 teammates after the 1st quarter. – 11:11 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LAL trail 28-27 after 12 minutes in this home finale, shooting just 38.1% from the field, to OKC’s 55.6%. – 11:10 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
12 minutes in. pic.twitter.com/lSDJ8iDdxO – 11:09 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
With LeBron, AD, Westbrook and Anthony out, LAL’s new starting lineup has had some good stretches these last two nights, but the end-of-bench group has struggled.
OKC took a 7-point lead late in the 1st Q before Gabriel and Ellington stopped a run with B2B 3’s. – 11:06 PM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
Rise 🆙 Roby
@Isaiah Roby | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/ogIMg4rSk2 – 11:05 PM Joe Mussatto @joe_mussatto
Georgios Kalaitzakis has 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting. – 11:04 PM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
Offense defense
@JaylenHoard | #GeorgiosKalaitzakis pic.twitter.com/Re1ueQRaWI – 11:02 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
An Arkansas alley-oop connection, as Reaves – who picked Isaiah Roby’s pocket on the other end – finds Monk to make it 12-9 LAL early against OKC. – 10:51 PM Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
The Los Angeles Lakers are planning to sign guard Mac McClung to a two-way NBA contract, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. McClung went to training camp with the Lakers and has developed in their South Bay affiliate where he won G League Rookie of the Year. – 10:51 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Arkansas Alley-Oop from Austin Reaves to Malik Monk. Maybe there will be a few worthwhile moments to this one. – 10:51 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Dwight gets us started with the dunk 🔨 pic.twitter.com/CE6DVTf4ts – 10:50 PM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Dwight Howard out here launching 3 pointers.
This man does not want OKC to get Paolo Banchero. – 10:47 PM Bill Oram @billoram
Fan appreciation night for the Lakers. I’m shocked that no player addressed the fans. Fans don’t get to see LeBron play, but wouldn’t hearing from him be… appreciated? – 10:47 PM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Isaiah Roby goes to the bench with what looked like a rolled ankle.
He has 3 points and 1 rebound in 1 minute of play. – 10:44 PM Joe Mussatto @joe_mussatto
Isaiah Roby took an awkward fall and is headed to the locker room. Melvin Frazier Jr. checked in for him. – 10:44 PM Joe Mussatto @joe_mussatto
Thunder starters:
– Simpson
– Krejci
– Kalaitzakis
– Hoard
– Roby – 10:37 PM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
Up first in LA
Presented by @EnergyTransfer pic.twitter.com/96TwDTfLPr – 10:31 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Tonight’s giveaway in honor of the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 75th birthday 🎂 pic.twitter.com/guEqENXygq – 10:25 PM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
Drip has no boundaries
(it’s 91° here 🥵) pic.twitter.com/SYccVXnFqq – 10:18 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Updated story on LeBron James getting shelved for the rest of the season: ocregister.com/2022/04/08/lak… – 10:17 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
First five on the floor.
#SuitingUpTogether | @ToyotaSoCal pic.twitter.com/GHSGtmdGqI – 10:15 PM CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Russell Westbrook trade rumors: Hornets a team to watch in potential deal for Lakers guard, per report
cbssports.com/nba/news/russe… – 10:05 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Same starting lineup for the Lakers tonight against the Thunder: Reaves, Johnson, Howard, Monk and Horton-Tucker. – 10:01 PM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
❝We’re going to play together, we’re going to give energy from the jump.❞
@NickAGallo :🎤 #GeorgiosKalaitzakis pic.twitter.com/YBoc08bTUx – 10:00 PM Chris Biderman @TheWarriorsWire
LeBron James lists Steph Curry as a player he would like to play with in today’s game. warriorswire.usatoday.com/2022/04/06/leb… – 10:00 PM Joe Mussatto @joe_mussatto
Mark Daigneault said pregame that the next step for Lindy Waters III is to get threes on the move. Waters is working on that pregame. pic.twitter.com/57B2qjofAj – 9:56 PM Bill Oram @billoram
Reflecting on LeBron’s season, Vogel said James serving as the primary roller as a center made him “more of a receiver than he ever had been in his career” and I’m just like, “Well, actually…” theathletic.com/2386596/2021/0… – 9:37 PM Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Reggie Bulock just set a great screen that freed up Dwight Powell to catch a perfect, 30-foot lob pass from Luka for a reverse jam. Mavericks are up 64-40 with 1:29 to go in the half. Home-court advantage in the first round is just about locked up. – 9:34 PM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Mark Daigneault on Josh Giddey possibly making All-Rookie First Team:
“If he makes First Team, it’s deserving… This is exactly the kind of start you’d hope to see.” – 9:23 PM Joe Mussatto @joe_mussatto
Daigneault said the Thunder’s rotation tonight will look more or less the same as it did in OKC’s last two games. – 9:11 PM Chris Vernon @ChrisVernonShow
this is my application to be your spokesman @DippinDots 😂
@Jon_Roser gave em to me and said no ad read, just say whatever. what a mistake haha. ps- the song is a bop. pic.twitter.com/VujmJcKHFz – 9:09 PM Oklahoma City Thunder @okcthunder
West Coast Weather 🩳 pic.twitter.com/ElwrStMANv – 9:07 PM Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
LeBron James thanks fans for support after being shut down for season nba.nbcsports.com/2022/04/08/leb… – 9:01 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Vogel said Davis, Westbrook and Anthony haven’t been ruled out for Sunday’s finale at Denver. LeBron’s already out, due to the ankle. – 8:56 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Frank Vogel said AD, Russ and Melo still haven’t been ruled out for Sunday’s finale in Denver. – 8:56 PM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Frank Vogel says AD, Melo and Westbrook have NOT been ruled out for Sunday yet. – 8:55 PM Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Mason Jones, who was terrific for the @SouthBayLakers all season (third in G League MVP voting), should get some run tonight, per Frank Vogel.
Otherwise, expect a similar rotation from last night at Golden State. – 8:54 PM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Frank Vogel praises Miles Simon for the job he did this season coaching the South Bay Lakers (@SouthBayLakers).
Mason Jones was 3rd in MVP voting while Mac McClung won Rookie of the Year in the G League. – 8:51 PM Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Frank Vogel says the Lakers will have similar rotations tonight against the Thunder, with two-way guard Mason Jones getting some playing time. – 8:50 PM Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Frank Vogel said he’s going to try to give Mason Jones a look tonight. – 8:50 PM Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Frank Vogel says Mason Jones will be available tonight. – 8:50 PM Charlotte Hornets @hornets
MELO IS HOT 🕺🏻🛸💕
@LaMelo Ball | @HornetsOnBally pic.twitter.com/a1KK96qGss – 8:25 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Friday Night Basketball pic.twitter.com/TgZdPgvEpj – 8:24 PM Mike McGraw @McGrawDHSports
#Bulls were an athletic team early in the season. They’ve looked really slow these last two games against Tatum/Brown and now Melo/Rozier – 8:22 PM Malik Monk @AhmadMonk
🐕 🐶 @GutterCatGang 👀 pic.twitter.com/IKQ2OXHETh – 8:04 PM Chris Biderman @TheWarriorsWire
After Klay Thompson dropped 33 points in the Warriors’ win over the Lakers, NBA Twitter chimed in with different reactions. warriorswire.usatoday.com/lists/nba-twit… – 8:00 PM Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
New @FrontOfficeShow is up! @Trevor_Lane and I talk Jokic making history, Ja maybe coming back, Lakers shutting down LBJ plus more Lakers drama and the latest end-of-season transactions around the NBA. Watch, like and subscribe below. Almost to 17K now!
youtu.be/iYi3D8VSy1M – 7:53 PM Barbara Barker @meanbarb
If Cavs make it to the playoffs this year it will mark the first time they have done so without LeBron James since 1998. Yes, there is some potential for karmic irony here considering LeBron not in playoffs. – 7:53 PM Jeff Stotts @InStreetClothes
Break out the pimento cheese sandwiches the In Street Clothes Podcast is headed to the Masters. @BrianSuttererMD & I break down the return of Tiger Woods & the injuries of Bryson DeChambeau. We also do quick hits on deGrom, AD, LeBron & more. open.spotify.com/episode/01zQek… – 7:49 PM StatMuse @statmuse
Youngest to average 30 PPG in a season: LeBron James
Oldest to average 30 PPG in a season: LeBron James pic.twitter.com/w1CVVrllXk – 6:49 PM StatMuse @statmuse
Russell Westbrook last 10 games:
22.2 PPG
7.4 RPG
7.1 APG
52.1 FG%
41.5 3P% on 4.1 attempts
Finished the season strong. pic.twitter.com/IhheX2NVDc – 6:43 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
Tonight: Home Finale 2022
: 7:30 PT
📺: @SpectrumSN
📻: 710 ESPN & 1330 KWKW
#LakeShow x @SociosUSA
nba.com/lakers/news/th… – 6:03 PM Alex Kennedy @AlexKennedyNBA
If LeBron James could team up with any NBA player, who would he choose?
“Steph Curry is the one I want to play with for sure in today’s game,” LeBron said. “I love everything about that guy. Lethal. When Steph gets out of his car, you better guard him.” basketballnews.com/stories/lebron… – 5:59 PM CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Lakers sign Wenyen Gabriel to two-year contract after waiving Trevor Ariza
cbssports.com/nba/news/laker… – 5:44 PM Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
LeBron missed 1/3 of the season.
AD missed 1/2 of the season.
Westbrook only missed 1 game until LA was eliminated.
That game: LeBron & AD both played and lost to the tanking Blazers.
Russ put up 18.5/7.4/7.1 on the season.
Yet Westbrook is getting all the blame. Come on. – 5:16 PM Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers
It’s Time for Dodger Baseball
Best of luck this season, @Dodgers! pic.twitter.com/MnCZPenN9I – 5:00 PM