In a game with so much at stake regarding the NBA Cup seedings, the OKC Thunder did everything they could to stay alive, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 101-93 in an absolute thriller.
The entirety of the game felt like it was on a scale, with each team adding more weight with every bucket and with every single defensive stop to tip it in their favor.
From Los Angeles having the free throw game in their favor to Oklahoma City having the clutch factor go their way, it was a true toss-up throughout all 48 minutes played. In the end, however, the scale tipped in favor of the young blistering Thunder, even though they did have some serious low points during the contest.
Studs and duds from hard-fought Thunder win over Lakers
Stud: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was doing his thing again against the Lakers, having another out-of-this-world performance to push the club to a victory and, in turn, one step closer to an Emirates NBA Cup Championship.
The MVP hopeful would once again be the best player on the court, as he ended his night with 36 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals.
It seemed as though he could do anything and everything someone would want out of a basketball player.
The moment that would have ended the game, if it was not for Jalen Williams, would be his clutch three-pointer in the final two minutes.
Now it comes down to if he can keep this level of play up for the rest of the season and become the first team to win the NBA Cup and Larry O'Brien trophy.
Dud: Thunder free throws
A storyline that has followed OKC this entire season is the lack of free throws and calls the team gets. At this point, it is infuriating.
The first half the disparity was in full effect, as the Lakers shot 12 free throws, half of their average of 25.9 per game.
During this span, the Thunder shot only two, both by Isaiah Hartenstein.
Head coach Mark Daigneault even had something to say before the game, not holding back a single word when talking about the lack of free throws for Oklahoma City and how much LeBron and company get each season.
At the moment, the Thunder rank first in drives per game with 61.7 per game, but shoot almost the least amount of free throws at 20.1 per game.
Stud: First half Luguentz Dort
Yes, Lu Dort played well the entirety of the game, especially on the defensive end, but his first-half performance needs to be highlighted, as it set the tone for the night.
After an ugly shooting slump by the defensive enforcer, Dort seemed like his usual self and was the sole reason for such a great first half for OKC.
Dort would score the first bucket of the game for the team, hitting a mid-range shot with his signature rainbow arc on full display.
He would then respond the next possession with what felt like his first three in centuries.
Dort would have 8 points in the first half, and a couple of defensive stops that proved crucial for the Thunder as the score was 51-48 in their favor going into the locker room.
Dud: Isaiah Joe
The sharpshooter went silent from the field in this NBA Cup matchup, going 1-for-8 on the night in 24 minutes of action.
Even with such a poor offensive outing, Joe would not be a complete hindrance, getting some stops on defense.
This performance cannot be overlooked, though, as it was one of the key reasons the game remained so close throughout the night.
If he could have just hit two of his missed threes, then this performance would have been over much sooner.
Stud: Jalen Williams
Jalen Williams and SGA make up one of the game's most dangerous duos.
J-Dub would finish the night with 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals while pulling out a clutch steal and slam chain of events late in the game that ultimately sealed the victory for OKC.
Being he's been on such a sensation tear of late, one could theoretically argue that Williams had himself an “off night," but, even still, he managed to shoot 8-of-19 from the field.
Defensively is where he shined, getting some much-needed stops late in the game that would limit the Lakers to scoring under 100 points for the first time all season.
After what could have been a brutal loss after he left during Wednesday's game against the Warriors, it was nice to see Jalen Williams not miss a single beat in this win.