LeBron James missed his first game of the young season for the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, which dropped them from 4.5-point favorites in San Antonio to 1-point underdogs. LA rallied for a 125-121 overtime victory and is back in action Wednesday at Oklahoma City. James will not play again due to an ankle injury, and it's also likely the Lakers sit fellow All-Star Anthony Davis because it is the second of a back-to-back and he suffered a minor injury Tuesday. The Lakers opened at -9 vs. the Thunder but are now -4 so that tells you oddsmakers think Davis will sit -- he's officially questionable.
Davis was terrific Tuesday with 35 points, 17 rebounds, four assists and four blocks in 42 minutes but bumped knees in the closing minute of regulation with San Antonio's Dejounte Murray while attempting to rebound a missed free throw, although Davis played through it. He also clutched his right shoulder in pain after a block in the first quarter. This writer would bet anything that Davis sits.
It could be the Russell Westbrook show tonight – perhaps wager on Westbrook for a triple-double? -- if Davis is out. Westbrook had easily his best game as a Laker on Tuesday with 33 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. He and Davis scored or assisted on 91 of the Lakers' 125 points. They combined to score 10 of the Lakers' 11 points in OT. Malik Monk started for LeBron on Tuesday and had 17 points in 39 minutes.
Oklahoma City is 0-4 and lost 106-98 at home to Golden State on Tuesday so at least didn't have to travel – that was the Thunder's closest loss of the season and the first time they led entering the second quarter (34-29).
Essentially, this OKC team is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a bunch of scrubs. SGA had 30 points against the Warriors and no other player more than 12. Big man Derrick Favors got the night off but should play Wednesday. He provides solid rebounding and defense in about 16 minutes per night.
The Thunder lost all three vs. the Lakers last season, although two went into overtime, and have dropped three in a row at home in the series. LA is 2-6 against the spread in the past eight meetings. This writer took the points when it was OKC +9.
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