Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton said he “hoped” Thursday’s trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers would not lead to a letdown for his team against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who were without Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook because of respective ankle injuries.
The Lakers’ play in the early going of the first quarter suggested they were distracted by no longer having Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. as teammates, but Paul George also had a hand in that. The free-agent-to-be came out firing, making his first five shots of the game.
George finished with 16 points in the quarter, but saw his Oklahoma City team trailing at the end of it.