The Oklahoma City Thunder got to the free throw line and took advantage to take a 52-45 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers heading into halftime Wednesday.
As a team, the Thunder attempted 22 free throws and made 20 of them, good for 90.9%. Every starter got to the line multiple times.
Forward Danilo Gallinari led the scoring with 10 points, making one of two 3-pointers and all four free throws he attempted.
Point guard Chris Paul had eight points, four rebounds and three assists with a team-high plus-eight against the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
Steven Adams had six points. Both of his field goals were impressive, one showing his agility with a spin move and one his power on a dunk.
Big man spin-move from Steven Adams!@okcthunder x @Lakers
📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/fxOgz1uOFm
— NBA (@NBA) August 5, 2020
Steve-o with authority 💪@RealStevenAdams | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/gVfEBnHaLj
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) August 5, 2020
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had nine points and Lu Dort had seven.
Oklahoma City led the Lakers 26-18 after the first quarter, limiting LeBron James to just three points in that quarter, much of the time with Lu Dort and later Andre Roberson guarding him.
The star was more productive in the second quarter, though, finishing the half with 10 points, four rebounds and a pair of assists.
James was the only Laker to have scored double-digits by halftime.
Anthony Davis had nine points while Danny Green and Alex Caruso had five points apiece.
If that seems like a low-scoring game, it’s in part because both teams struggled to make 3-pointers.
Oklahoma City went just 2-for-11 from behind the arc, as Gilgeous-Alexander and Gallinari were the only two Thunder players to make one.
The Lakers were unable to take advantage, making just three of their 19 attempts.
Good defense by the Thunder and those trips to the free throw line are big reasons they hold a lead heading into the third.
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