Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht, right, attempts a dunk as Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein defends during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shoots as Lakers star Anthony Davis defends during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers star Anthony Davis tries to keep the ball away from Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort, left, and Lakers star LeBron James, right, go after the ball during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers star LeBron James, center, shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, left, and guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defend during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers star Anthony Davis gets to the basket for a layup in front of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, center, tries to get past Lakers stars LeBron James, left, and Anthony Davis during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers star LeBron James gets to the basket for a layup in front of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein, left, and Luguentz Dort during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, right, shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein defends during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers star Anthony Davis, left, looks to pass the ball as the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein defends during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort dives as he passes the ball during the first half of their NBA Cup game against the Lakers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers rookie guard Dalton Knecht has his dunk attempt blocked by the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers star Anthony Davis drives to the basket as the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein defends during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James, right, shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defends during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort, left, shoots as Lakers forward Rui Hachimura defends during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers star LeBron James handles the ball as the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Cason Wallace defends during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, left, shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defends during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander takes a 3-point shot during the first half of their NBA Cup game against the Lakers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, left, shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Dillon Jones defends during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers guard Max Christie, left, shoots the ball as the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Ajay Mitchell defends during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell, left, tries to shoot as Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell defends during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves is treated after taking a hard fall on the court during the first half of their NBA Cup game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left, and Lakers forward LeBron James reach for a loose ball during the second half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers star LeBron James, right, shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein defends during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, shoots as Lakers star Anthony Davis defends during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, front, is fouled by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht attempts a 3-point shot during the first half of their NBA Cup game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams, right, shoots as Lakers star LeBron James defends during the second half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers star LeBron James looks on during the second half of their NBA Cup game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, right, shoots as Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell defends during the second half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers rookie guard Dalton Knecht, right, reacts after hitting a 3-point shot as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell walks away during the second half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, center, shoots as Lakers guard Gabe Vincent, left, and guard D’Angelo Russell, right, defend during the second half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, left, shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams defends during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams, right, shoots as Lakers forward Rui Hachimura defends during the second half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shoots the ball between Lakers guards D’Angelo Russell, left, and Dalton Knecht during the second half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James looks at a replay on the video board after a call that went against them during the second half of their NBA Cup game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shoots the ball as the Lakers’ Anthony Davis (3), Rui Hachimura (28) and D’Angelo Russell (1) defend during the second half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shoots the ball as the Lakers’ Anthony Davis (3), Rui Hachimura (28) and D’Angelo Russell (1) defend during the second half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James, left, is fouled by the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Luguentz Dort during the second half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James reacts during the second half of their NBA Cup game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, right, shoots as Lakers guard Austin Reaves defends during the second half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kenrich Williams, right, tries to pass while under pressure from Lakers forward Rui Hachimura during the second half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams looks to shoot the ball as Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht, left, defends during the second half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Cason Wallace, right, shoots the ball as Lakers guard Austin Reaves defends during the second half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams, front, shoots as Lakers star Anthony Davis defends during the second half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers star Anthony Davis shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein defends during the second half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams shoots as Lakers star Anthony Davis defends during the second half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Luguentz Dort takes a 3-point shot as Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell defends during the second half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
A fan reacts as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes a free throw during the second half of their NBA Cup game against the Lakers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell reacts after an inbound pass was intercepted by the Oklahoma City Thunder during the final minute of the second half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht, right, attempts a dunk as Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein defends during the first half of their NBA Cup game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES — The Lakers entered Friday knowing the results of their home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder wouldn’t guarantee anything when it came to their hopes to contend for a second consecutive NBA Cup.
But Friday night’s result, a 101-93 Thunder victory for the Lakers’ fourth loss in the last five games following a six-game winning streak, sealed the Lakers’ fate.
“We have a lot to build on defensively over the last two games,” Coach JJ Redick said. “That was as connected as our group has been on that end of the floor since the first game of the season. Really outstanding job with a lot of the stuff we talked about. But there were a half-dozen to a dozen plays that just shot us in the foot even before the late-game stuff.”
With the defeat, the Lakers dropped to 11-8 on the season and 2-2 in Cup matchups in their four Group Play games, essentially eliminating them from contention for a spot in the quarterfinals.
The lone wild card spot in the Western Conference will very likely be a team that goes 3-1 (Oklahoma City, Phoenix, San Antonio, Dallas or Portland). Even in the extremely unlikely scenario where a slew of teams end up tied at 2-2, the Lakers would lose out on point differential (-24).
Rookie wing Dalton Knecht scored a team-high 20 points (6 for 12 from 3-point range) to go with six rebounds and four assists.
Anthony Davis finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and four blocked shots, but he only had 10 field goal attempts (making five) to go with 5-of-7 shooting from the free-throw line.
“Every time we put the ball in the post they had one guy at the elbow and they were doubling from the baseline as well,” LeBron James said of Davis. “We all got to do a better job of trying to keep him involved offensively because we know what it does for our offense. It was one of those games where I don’t think anybody was much in a rhythm besides Dalton.”
D’Angelo Russell added 17 points, nine rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals off the bench.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hit a pull-up 3-pointer over Max Christie’s outstretched right arm to put the Thunder ahead 95-91 with 1:35 remaining.
James (12 points, eight rebounds, six assists but five turnovers) tried responding with his own 3-pointer but missed.
Gilgeous-Alexander missed a pull-up 3-point attempt on the Thunder’s ensuing possession, with James then assisting Christie on a turnaround jumper with 40 seconds left that cut the Lakers’ deficit to 95-93.
Not knowing the Lakers didn’t have a foul to give late, Christie intentionally fouled Gilgeous-Alexander, who knocked down a pair of free throws with 22 seconds left to give the Thunder a 97-93 advantage.
“It was a misinterpretation on my part,” Christie said. “But regardless, I think I should have … I knew the time and score of the game, but I didn’t realize they were in the bonus. And I should have known because they were in the bonus for the last three or four minutes. That’s a mental error on my part, and I take responsibility for that.”
Austin Reaves (11 points on 3-of-11 shooting) turned the ball over on the Lakers’ ensuing possession, leading to a Jalen Williams (19 points) dunk to seal the win for the Thunder (15-4; 2-1 in Cup Play).
Reaves took a hard fall after getting fouled by Gilgeous-Alexander late in the second quarter.
He laid on the court for a few minutes before walking back to the bench under his own power, knocking down a pair of free throws after the stoppage.
He tried to stay in the game but asked to be subbed out a minute later, heading directly to the team’s locker room and not coming out with the rest of the team after halftime before rejoining the team midway through the third.
“Clear that he couldn’t go in the first half,” Redick said of Reaves. “He’s tough as nails. I thought he moved fine. It wasn’t really in the flow of the game because it’s bad and not getting to start the second half. He’ll be in some pain [on Saturday], and we’ll just have to assess going forward.”
Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 36 points (15 in the fourth quarter), nine assists and six rebounds. It was the fifth time in the past six games that Gilgeous-Alexander has scored at least 30.
The Lakers begin a four-game road trip when they face the Utah Jazz on Sunday at 5 p.m. PT. The trip includes games against Minnesota, Miami and Atlanta.
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