Thunder struggles without Westbrook
LOS ANGELES — By the time Paul and Paulette George settled into their seats along the baseline, they’d missed the most furious flurry from their All-Star son.
George was setting Staples Center on fire. As if thanking the wishful crowd of celebrities and Californians for a loud ovation during pregame introductions, George didn’t miss his first five shots. Not long afterward, George’s mom and dad were getting all the love. Pats on the shoulder. Warm smiles. Periodic visits from George’s agent, Aaron Mintz.
Unlike George’s last time in L.A., this one was a little different. In the Thunder’s 106-81 loss, the Georges had a chance to see life without Russell Westbrook.
It was fitting on a trade deadline day in which the Lakers cleared out enough salary cap space to chase George, a Palmdale, Calif., native, and another maximum salary free agent either this season or next, that George had a taste of the non-Westbrook life.
For 55 games, Westbrook and George — who will be All-Star teammates in the Staples Center two weeks from Sunday — have been among the best duos in the NBA.
Two days before the Lakers’ blowout win, their second victory over the Thunder this week, George and Westbrook were the two best players on the floor against the NBA’s current dynasty in Oakland.
On Thursday, George was electric on both ends, finishing with 29 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals — the Thunder’s leader in every category.
At times without his running mates, George had to take the game over by himself. In the third quarter with the game slipping away from the Thunder, he dribbled Kentavius Caldwell-Pope dizzy into the hardwood, drove left, then lofted an alley-oop pass to Steven Adams. Transitioning to defense, George stole the ball back himself.
But without Anthony or Westbrook — particularly Westbrook, who leads the NBA in assists per game — it was only a matter of time before the Thunder was broken down. Its best offense in the second quarter was a series of Jerami Grant post-ups against the smaller Pope.
With Alex Abrines starting at point guard in the second quarter, the Thunder didn’t score in the period until Steven Adams tipped in his own miss at 7:33.
The Thunder trailed 52-46 at halftime and it would have been worse if not for George.
It was even with him on the court in a 31-20 Lakers third quarter that put the game out of reach.
The Thunder shot 1-of10 from 3-point range in the third. The Lakers shot 57 percent overall in the quarter.
Besides George, the Thunder’s only doubledigit scorer was Adams, who struggled against the Lakers for the second time this week, shooting 4-of11 for 13 points.
Meanwhile, Westbrook and Anthony could only watch the game from the locker room as a “We want Paul” chant started circulating through Staples during a fourth-quarter stoppage.
The Lakers closed the season series with the Thunder an even 2-2. They could have up to $69 million in cap space this summer if team president Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka massage the roster as expected.
They won’t have Westbrook, whose face was sprawled across five massive ad murals for Jordan Brand across the street from Staples Center, a dominant presence even when he’s not playing.
And for the first time in 53 games as a Thunder player, George knows what a Westbrook-less world looks like. His parents do, too.
Tip-ins
Oklahoma City Blue two-way players had late contributions in the blowout loss. Daniel Hamilton was inserted in the third quarter and had five points, three rebounds and three assists . ... P.J. Dozier scored on his first offensive possession, but even more noteworthy, he became the first player in Thunder history to wear No. 35 in a game besides Kevin Durant.