- The OKC Thunder rallied from 19 points down as +400 underdogs to beat the L.A. Lakers 107-104 on Thursday night.
- Last October 27th, the Thunder also came back from a 26-point deficit and a +2800 live odds to beat the Lakers 123-115.
- OKC is just 2-6 on the season but their two wins have come against the Lakers.
The Los Angeles Lakers could easily be 7-2 right now and the OKC Thunder 0-8. But just like Superman had kryptonite, the 2021-22 Lakers have well, the OKC Thunder. Or so it seems.
On Thursday night, the Thunder rallied from 19 points down to beat the Lakers 107-104 as heavy betting underdogs. By doing so, OKC is only the 5th team in the last 25 years to win multiple games where they trailed by 19 points against a single opponent in a single season. As a result, the Lakers’ three-game winning streak is no more and they are 5-4 SU on the season while the Thunder are 2-6 SU instead.
Thunder are 2-0 Against Lakers and 0-6 Against Everyone Else
The Oklahoma City Thunder are 2-0 against the Lakers and 0-6 against everyone else pic.twitter.com/26ZUO7sBXB
— BetOnline.ag (@betonline_ag) November 5, 2021
Somehow, the Oklahoma City Thunder ae 2-0 SU against the Los Angeles Lakers, and 0-6 SU against everyone else. The Thunder first beat the Lakers last October 27th in Oklahoma City. In that game, the Thunder didn’t just cover the +5.5 spread but they beat the Lakers outright 123-115 by rallying from a 26-point deficit.
Then came Thursday night at Staples Center where the Lakers carried a three-game winning streak and were -10.5 spread and -600 Moneyline favorites to beat the Thunder who had not won since their first meeting. Even without LeBon James who sat out the game due to injury, the Lakers established a 19-point lead. But just like their first meeting of the season, the Thunder finished strong to upset the Lakers.
OKC outscored Los Angeles 35-24 in the fourth quarter on Thursday night, erasing an eight-point fourth quarter deficit and winning 107-104. Just like during the first meeting, it was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who was the biggest thorn in the Lakers side. After scoring 27 points with five three-pointers on October 27th, SGA scored 28 with four three-pointers, including a logo shot that was the backbreaker for the Lakers.
From the Logo
“FROM THE LOGO!”
HUGE bucket from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in clutch time.
? @NBATV pic.twitter.com/o4bX2CiFux
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) November 5, 2021
Gilgeous-Alexander’s logo triple gave the Thunder a 101-95 lead with 1:18 left in the game. Although the Lakers fought back and hit big three-pointers, later on, the Thunder would have enough cushion to hang on for the victory. As a team, the Thunder made just 15 of 41 three-point attempts. Incredibly, SGA sank their longest attempt of the game at a time when they needed it most.
It can be recalled that Gilgeous-Alexander also hit a three-pointer at the end of the third-quarter buzzer to cap off the Thunder’s 26-point rally. SGA’s triple gave the Thunder a 97-95 lead at the end of three quarters. OKC would never look back and went on to win the game 123-115. OKC went as high as a +2800 underdog when they were down by 26 points.
Gilgeous-Alexander has scored at least 27 points in his last five games played. He is averaging 23.5 points per game this season and looks headed to his second 20-point season in OKC. He’s having a fantastic year but because the Thunder are losing games, he is just a +25000 to win MVP honors at BetMGM and +50000 at the Caesars Sportsbook. He isn’t on the oddsboards at the other top NBA sportsbooks. But against the Lakers this season, SGA is the MVP, no doubt about that.
