Durant and Westbrook-less Thunder top the Lakers, 108-101

BOX SCORE

I’m not going to go as far to say tonight’s win over the Lakers was impressive. Because context is necessary here. But I will say it was nice. And important.

The Lakers are terrible, no question. (They’ve been playing better lately, though, winning three straight). But in this situation throughout November, when the Thunder played without either Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook, it looked a whole lot different than this. They won four times, beating all bad teams, but they were all mostly struggles, trying to find a way to survive 48 minutes with more points.

This was the Thunder looking to be the superior team throughout 48 minutes. D.J. Augustin did a masterful job of engineering offense throughout, Enes Kanter was dominant on the interior, Serge Ibaka was solid and… Jeremy Lamb was big. That’s right, our old friend Jeremy Lamb wandered his way away from the Gatorade jug to drop 14 points in 16 minutes on 5-8 shooting, including a couple big shots in the fourth quarter.

And Lamb deserves some big credit for that. He hasn’t been happy about his lack of time on the floor, but he was called upon to run backup point guard with the thin roster today, and he was good enough to actually get the closing call, staying on the floor to playing alongside Augustin.

The way the Thunder finished was encouraging. The formula early in the season without Westbrook and Durant was to try and build a lead with energy, then hold on it for dear life. This was different. They executed in the halfcourt, withstanding a few decent Laker pushes to respond with big shots and big stops.

It was 84-72 to start the fourth. The Lakers got it down to 90-84 with seven minutes left, but Lamb came up with maybe the most important sequence of the game. Wayne Ellington was lining up a 3 that might’ve sparked a comeback to make things tight, but Lamb stuffed it and went coast-to-coast for an and-1. After two free throws from Jordan Hill, Lamb came back again hitting a 3 to push the lead back to 10. And he hit the dagger, with 4:22 left, a wing 3 to put OKC up 101-87.

One thing to take away: The Thunder were running a late-game offense that we’ve never really seen before. They were posting a big man — Kanter — letting him draw a double, and kicking to open shooters who would either attack, swing, or shoot. It was nice to see. And makes you wonder if they’ll lean on Kanter on the block late in games when Durant and Westbrook return.

This was a pretty simple taking-care-of-business performance by the Thunder. But having lost their last two, both difficult, emotional games, to bounce back after more adversity in losing Westbrook is a significant positive. They have the 76ers next, and can look forward to both Westbrook and Durant being re-evaluated as well, possibly clearing the path for them to return.

A win here stabilizes things, but what really is important about it is that it’s not the alternative. That’s an extreme oversimplification, I realize, but beating the hapless Lakers isn’t notable. But losing to them definitely would’ve been.

NOTES:

• Enes Kanter: 16 points (6-10 shooting), 15 rebounds and five assists in 29 minutes. That’s his third double-double in his first five games with the Thunder. Over the past two seasons, Thunder centers have combined for five. All from Steven Adams.

• Kanter with the Thunder (five games): 15.8 points on 57.7 percent shooting, 10.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists.

• Kanter’s defense was definitely very meh, though. I don’t know what the numbers say, and the sample size is too small anyway, but Kanter should probably exclusively play his minutes alongside Ibaka.

• D.J. Augustin did a really nice job standing in for Westbrook. He scored, but he also got the Thunder into good offense most the night. He was able to hit Kanter, Nick Collison and Serge Ibaka on rolls to the bucket and set up open shooters. Pretty ideal game for a point guard filling in.

• Not counting James Harden, Augustin is probably the best backup point guard the Thunder have ever had. And yes, I’m saying that about Reggie Jackson. Jackson is no question a better player, but as a backup point guard, Augustin is outstanding. If Jackson had been playing tonight, the Thunder might’ve won anyway, but there wouldn’t have been near the balance, and the outcome would’ve hinged on how well he played.

• Steven Adams was dressed as a Staples Center usher for some reason.

• Great stat via Andrew Schlecht: Kanter had five assists. He had 24 on the season when he came to the Thunder. In his five games with OKC, he has 11.

• How far away are we from openly being able to wonder if Lamb should be playing over Waiters? We’re not there yet, right?

• Dion Lamb would be a pretty good player, though.

• Waiters is just so frustrating. He works. He tries. But he doesn’t finish shots he should, and takes ones he shouldn’t. He just makes it so difficult for himself. Like today, had he put away a couple of his rim attacks, hit one of his four 3s — all open — and not missed three of four free throws, he would’ve had 19 points on 7-13 shooting with three assists. That would’ve been a nice game. Instead, it was nine points on 4-13.

• Andre Roberson came out RED HOT. He somehow banked in a corner 3, which is amazing, and then followed that up with a jab-step traditional 3 from the other corner.

• If you missed it, the Thunder put out a new home alternate uniform.

• Allow me a thought or two: Man, the Thunder are bad at that stuff. It’s like they’re intentionally trying to be boring and bland. They have this fun, exciting team, and they brand them to be the most plain thing there is. And the fact they put out a statement that says something about it representing the city with headline of, “New Thunder uniform reflects hometown spirit,” is just embarrassing. As if fabric has anything to do with anything.

• How would one describe Lamb’s facial hair? It was like he has mutton chops, but it’s clear they’re unintentional as he’s trying to grow a beard.

• Important question: WHY DOES DION WAITERS TAKE A DRIBBLE ON WIDE OPEN 3s? SOMEONE TELL ME.

• Kyle Singler only played 19 minutes, but he was really good, I thought. Hit two 3s and finished with eight points. His glue guy ability is high.

• I really expected Mitch McGary to play a big part in this one. Instead, scoreless in 10 minutes. Such is life with a rookie.

• The Thunder are now 5-10 this season without Westbrook and Durant.

Next up: Home against the 76ers on Wednesday