Lonzo Ball Stars in Lakers Win Over Oklahoma City Thunder, Twitter Goes Wild

Lonzo Ball, Los Angeles Lakers
Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on January 07, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Lonzo Ball starred as the Los Angeles Lakers upset the Thunder in Oklahoma City on Thursday night with a 138-128 win in overtime. The 21-year-old finished with 18 points and 10 assists as the Lakers' young players showed the kind of maturity they have sorely lacked at times this season.

With LeBron James missing his 12th consecutive game because of the groin injury he picked up against the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day, the Lakers roared back from a 12-point deficit in the first quarter and then kept the Thunder to just six points in overtime.

Read more: The latest LeBron James injury update is a blow for the Lakers

Ball scored five of the Lakers' 16 points in the extra period, adding two rebounds and an assist. The second overall pick of the 2017 NBA draft has struggled to find his feet in the league so far, but his performance on Thursday night received plenty of praise.

When you let Lonzo run the offense good things happen. It’s not rocket science.

— Ry (@JustRyCole) January 18, 2019

Lonzo Ball great in OT for the Lakers tonight. Westbrook a non factor in OT. Completely lost confidence in his jumper. He was never a great shooter but it’s painful now.

— Colin Cowherd (@ColinCowherd) January 18, 2019

This is as confident as ive ever seen Lonzo. Absolutely in control of everything, telling everybody where to be on the floor.

— UnwrittenRules (@UnwrittenRul3s) January 18, 2019

People who say @ZO2_ is a bust probably don’t know much about basketball.

— Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand) January 18, 2019

Lonzo Ball was terrific in the overtime, and finished with 18 points, 10 assists, 6 boards and a steal. Kyle Kuzma had a game-best 32 points, including 7 3’s, plus 8 boards.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) January 18, 2019

Aggressive Lonzo all day everyday please

— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) January 18, 2019

Ball's efforts in overtime were even more impressive, as it came after he handed the Thunder a chance to force the game into the extra period. With 2.9 seconds left and the Lakers up 122-119, Ball fouled Westbrook on a three-pointer, sending the 2017 MVP to the charity stripe.

The Thunder star converted all three free throws to send the game into overtime, while Ball was mocked on Twitter.

“Always foul a jump shooter up three with the game on the line” - Lonzo Ball, noted buffoon pic.twitter.com/cnilGLqfrk

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 18, 2019

When Lonzo fouls Russ on a three, up three, with less than three seconds on the clock pic.twitter.com/Tzj2hutGa2

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 18, 2019

"They [the Lakers coaching staff] told me to foul him [Westbrook] and I thought I got the foul off before he got up to shoot the ball, but apparently that's not what happened," Ball told reporters in the locker room, as per Spectrum SportsNet.

However, NBA crew chief Tom Washington came to the Lakers guard's rescue after the game, admitting Westbrook should have never been awarded free throws.

Pool report with official Tom Washington on Lonzo Ball’s foul on Westbrook. Admitted it should’ve been called on the floor and not in the act of shooting, but it was not a reviewable play. pic.twitter.com/qr198Bwvbl

— Royce Young (@royceyoung) January 18, 2019

"Upon being able to see the review of the play, we realized that the illegal contact happened prior to his upward motion, so it should have been a side-out," Washington was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

Ball wasn't the only young Laker to step up on Thursday night. Kyle Kuzma had 32 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while Ivica Zubac came off the bench to score 26 points in 28 minutes, adding 12 rebounds.

The win was the Lakers second in a row and improved their season record to 25-21, which keeps them tied them with the Utah Jazz for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Los Angeles ends its two-game road trip in Houston on Saturday night, before beginning a four-game home stand with a matchup against the Golden State Warriors on Monday.

The loss against the Lakers was the second in a row for the Thunder, who slipped to 26-18 but remain third in the Western Conference.

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About the writer


Dan Cancian is currently a reporter for Newsweek based in London, England. Prior to joining Newsweek in January 2018, he ... Read more

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