In their return to Oklahoma City, both Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony didn’t have the kind of ending to the game they had hoped for.
For Westbrook, who had a triple-double with 20 points, 14 points and 13 assists, ended up being ejected for a second technical foul near the end of the game.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, the Lakers blew a 41-19 first quarter lead and a 72-56 lead in the second half. Yet, with the Lakers trailing by three, Anthony intercepted an inbounds pass and had a chance to make the game-tying shot that could have sent the game into overtime.
Unfortunately for Melo, the shot wasn’t even close.
Anthony struggled in his return to OKC, as he scored just 13 points, shooting 5-of-14 from the floor and 1-for-8 from three point territory.
The Lakers were without LeBron James, who missed his second straight game with an ankle injury. The 2-3 Lakers will head home for a four-game home stint at The Staples Center and will face LeBron’s old team, the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.
