LeBron James scored 26 points to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a 128-99 road win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.
The Lakers improved to 7-0 on the road for the first time in franchise history.
During the last three games, Los Angeles has trailed for just 11 seconds. Wednesday, the Lakers led from wire-to-wire.
James hit a season-high five 3-pointers, including a pair to fuel an 18-2 run early in the third quarter to put the game out of reach. James scored nine consecutive points during that stretch.
After going 5 of 14 from the floor in the first half, James was much more efficient in the third, hitting both of his 3-point tries and going 4 of 6 from the floor overall to help the Lakers extend their lead.
A bit earlier in the game, it didn’t look like the game would be competitive at all in the second half. James’ back-to-back 3-pointers kickstarted a 16-0 Lakers run that put Los Angeles up 56-32.
But by halftime, Oklahoma City had closed the deficit to 12, as the Lakers shot 1-for-8 to close the half.
Anthony Davis’ status for the game was questionable after suffering a jammed toe a day earlier in Houston.
But Davis got off to a hot start, scoring 12 of his 18 points in the first quarter.
Montrezl Harrell added 21 off the bench.
Dennis Schroder, playing his first game in Oklahoma City since being traded to the Lakers in the offseason after two seasons with the Thunder, was 4 of 12 for 14 points with five rebounds and five assists.
The Lakers hit 17 shots from 3-point range in the win, shooting 45.9 percent from beyond the arc. The Thunder have lost all five home games this season, their worst start at home since 2007. The franchise, in their final season in Seattle, started 0-7 at home that season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 17 points. Hamidou Diallo hit a buzzer-beater from about 75 feet out to close the third quarter. The Thunder’s Darius Bazley left the game midway through the third quarter with a right ankle sprain.


Houston Rockets trade frustrated Harden to Nets
The Houston Rockets have traded guard James Harden to Brooklyn, the Nets announced yesterday, after the eight-time All-Star’s relationship with the Western Conference team broke down this week.
Harden, the NBA’s MVP in 2018, said the Rockets were “just not good enough” this season as they sit second-bottom in the Western Conference with a 3-6 record, prompting the 31-year-old to say the situation could not be fixed.
Harden’s arrival at the Nets reunites him with forward Kevin Durant – his team mate at Oklahoma City Thunder – and guard Kyrie Irving as the franchise look to form their own All-star trio. “Adding an All-NBA player such as James to our roster better positions our team to compete against the league’s best,” Nets general manager Sean Marks said in a statement.
“James is one of the most prolific scorers and playmakers in our game, and we are thrilled to bring his special talents to Brooklyn.”
The trade deal also involves the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Nets center Jarrett Allen and forward Taurean Prince moving to the Cavaliers while guard Caris LeVert and forward Rodions Kurucs join the Rockets. US media reported that LeVert is expected to move to the Indiana Pacers in an exchange deal for All-Star Victor Oladipo. The Nets, sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 7-6 record, also sent three first round draft picks (2022, 2024 and 2026) and four first round pick swaps (2021, 2023, 2025 and 2027) to Houston.
Meanwhile Kawhi Leonard had 28 points, nine assists and six rebounds, and the host Los Angeles Clippers defeated the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans 111-106 on Wednesday. Paul George had 27 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Clippers. George hit 5 of 9 3-pointers and 8 of 16 shots from the floor. Patrick Beverley added 10 points and six rebounds.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored a career-high 37 points on 15-of-23 shooting, including 5 of 8 3-pointers for the Pelicans, who played without Zion Williamson (health and safety protocols), Lonzo Ball (knee) and Eric Bledsoe (eye).
Brandon Ingram collected 22 points and six rebounds. Steven Adams finished with 12 points and six rebounds. JJ Redick chipped in 12 points, while Kira Lewis Jr. finished with 10 for the Pelicans, who lost their fourth in a row. The Clippers dictated for much of the contest. However, Alexander-Walker kept the Pelicans close. His 3-pointer cut the margin to 102-96 with 3:24 remaining but an 8-2 run by the Clippers put them up 110-98.