Thunder Face Lakers In Cup Game, Eye Perfect Road Trip

Los Angeles, CA – The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a disappointing 130-114 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2023 NBA Cup game on Friday night.

Lakers’ Struggles Mount

The Lakers, who entered the game with a 12-14 record, were outplayed by the Thunder in all facets of the game. Oklahoma City shot a sizzling 53.8% from the field, compared to just 43.1% for the Lakers. The Thunder also dominated the rebounding battle, outrebounding the Lakers 48-35.

“We just weren’t ready to play tonight,” said Lakers coach Darvin Ham. “We didn’t have the energy or the focus that we needed to compete against a good team like the Thunder.”

Davis’ Injury Concerns

Adding to the Lakers’ woes, star forward Anthony Davis left the game in the first quarter with a right foot injury. Davis, who is averaging 24.1 points and 12.1 rebounds per game this season, will undergo an MRI on Saturday to determine the severity of the injury.

“I felt a sharp pain in my foot,” said Davis. “I’m just hoping it’s nothing too serious.”

Perfect Road Trip in Sight

Despite the loss to the Thunder, the Lakers still have a chance to finish their six-game road trip undefeated. They will face the Orlando Magic on Sunday before wrapping up the trip against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday.

“We have to put this loss behind us and focus on the next game,” said Ham. “We have a chance to finish this road trip on a high note, and we’re going to do everything we can to make that happen.”