LOS ANGELES -- For the second time in four days, the Oklahoma City Thunder showed too much firepower over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Russell Westbrook led the charge with 23 points and eight assists while Kevin Durant had an all-around effort of scored 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists as the Thunder pummeled the Lakers, 120-85, on Wednesday night at Staples Center.
Serge Ibaka and Enes Kanter combined for 33 points and 18 rebounds for the Thunder, who blew out Los Angeles, 118-78, last December 19 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City.
Kobe Bryant was the main man for the Lakers with 19 points, but the 17-time All-Star, who will be retiring after this season, made only 7 of 22 field goals. D'Angelo Russell tallied 18 while Jordan Clarkson and Robert Sacre added 10 points each for Los Angeles.
As disappointing as the twin debacles were, Kobe wasn't surprised.
"I mean you can train a cat to bark all you want, but the damn cat's not going to bark. So there's no sense yelling at it," Bryant said after his team fell to 5-24 and last place in the Western Conference.
The Thunder, who improved to 20-9 and third place in the Western Conference, put the Lakers away with a 22-0 run to start the third quarter.
Photo: Kobe scored 19 but made only 7 of 22 shots against the OKC Thunder.
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