Getty Images
Oklahoma City Thunder (32-27) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (16-41)
Game Time, TV: Sunday, March 1st – 6:30 PM ET on ESPN
Projected Starting Lineups:
Oklahoma City Thunder: PG: D.J. Augustin, SG: Andre Roberson, SF: Kyle Singler, PF: Serge Ibaka, C: Enes Kanter
Los Angeles Lakers: PG: Jordan Clarkson, SG: Wayne Ellington, SF: Ryan Kelly, PF: Carlos Boozer, C: Robert Sacre
The hapless Los Angeles Lakers will play host to the beat-up Oklahoma City Thunder on a Sunday evening game in front of a national audience.
The Thunder have struggled to remain healthy all throughout this season and will now be without the services of their star point guard Russell Westbrook after his face collided with teammate Andre Roberson’s knee, which required him to go through a surgical procedure.
The Lakers have had a rough few years, and it appears as though they will continue to be mired in disarray as long as Kobe Bryant remains on the sideline. Their starting lineup right now might arguably be the worst one they have ever had. Their best hope at this point is to continue to lose so that they wind up getting a top five draft pick, or else they lose their pick to the Philadelphia 76ers.
The key matchup for this game will be Serge Ibaka vs. Carlos Boozer. With both Westbrook and Kevin Durant out, Ibaka should have his way with Boozer on both sides of the floor, and he must be the Thunder’s go-to player in this game.
In the end, I see the Thunder taking this game. They have been playing some really great basketball lately, and they could not ask for a better opponent to play with Westbrook out for at least this game.
Dan Schultz is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @dschultz89. “Like” him on Facebook and add him on Google.
