Season-Highs From Rondo, Kuzma Lead Star-Less Lakers Over OKC

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Without three of their top five scorers — LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Danny Green — Rajon Rondo and Kyle Kuzma handled business for the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday against Oklahoma City. Starting for the first time together this season, the pair combined for 57 points and 19 rebounds in the Lakers 125-110 victory, doing so with an efficient 25-for-46 shooting performance (54.3 percent).

Kuzma played 40 minutes for the first time this year, scoring a season-high 36 points on 15-of-24 shooting. Included in his monster night was a 4-for-6 performance from beyond the arc, seven rebounds, and a team-best plus-minus (+20).

Rondo nearly had his first triple-double of the season, falling two assists shy, but he was aggressive on the glass and off the dribble. He finished with season-highs in points (21), rebounds (12), and minutes played (33). After the game, Anthony Davis, who missed his second game since taking a nasty fall on Tuesday, hijacked a microphone to interview Rondo about his monster game.

Rondo strained a finger on his right hand during the game, per reports, but it didn’t seem to bother him much after the win.

Dwight Howard also got some extra shine without LeBron and AD, posting his third double-double of the season. Howard had 12 points in 26 minutes, adding 14 rebounds and two blocked shots, both team-highs.

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Four other Lakers scored in double figures against the Thunder — Quinn Cook (13), Troy Daniels (12), Alex Caruso (11), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (11).

Los Angeles (32-7) holds the top spot in the Western Conference by five games. They’ll be back in action at home against Cleveland on Monday and it’s likely that their stars will be back on the floor.