Lou Williams explodes for 44 in Lakers' loss to OKC
The Los Angeles Lakers looked to be headed for yet another blowout loss, but Lou Williams wanted to make things interesting.
Williams, who won Sixth Man of the Year as a member of the Toronto Raptors last season, dropped 23 points in the fourth quarter to finish with a career-high 44 points on Friday.
Lakers Mood: pic.twitter.com/2TUilOQ3RX
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His previous career high was 36, which he managed against the Cleveland Cavaliers last season.
As brilliant as Williams was, his effort wasn't enough to defeat the Thunder. The indomitable duo of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant combined for 60 points to escape with the win at Staples Center.
Nevertheless, Williams did give delirious Lakers fans something to cheer about. The 2015-16 season has turned out to be another lost cause for the once proud franchise, and Williams's sharp regression following a career year was just one of many sobering experiences.
On Friday, Williams gave Lakers fans a peak of what he's capable of: He got hot in a flash. He hit 12-of-25 from the field and drained five treys, while using his signature rip-through shot fake to earn 15 trips to the free-throw line.
"I played with AI. He was King Foul." Lakers' Lou Williams on his foul-drawing ability
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His 44, along with Kobe Bryant's 19 and Jordan Clarkson's 17, were nearly enough to upset the Thunder.
The Lakers even had a chance to tie, but head coach Byron Scott curiously gave Bryant the last shot instead of Williams. Down two with 13 seconds to go, the 37-year-old Bryant got Durant on the perimeter and managed to turn the corner, but couldn't make a short baseline fadeaway.
The loss dropped the Lakers to 8-30, while the Thunder improved to 26-11 on the year.