Durant-less Thunder Edge Lakers, 104-103
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Russell Westbrook scored 31 points and hit a key jumper with 38 seconds left, and the Oklahoma City Thunder overcame the absence of NBA MVP Kevin Durant for a 104-103 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
Kobe Bryant missed a 17-foot jumper right before the buzzer for the Lakers, who had won three of four. Bryant had nine points on 3-of-15 shooting, but added eight rebounds and eight assists.
Reggie Jackson scored 25 points and hit the go-ahead free throws with 1:05 left for the Thunder, who persevered down the stretch for their eighth victory in nine games.
Durant sat out after spraining his right ankle in the first half of the Thunder's loss at Golden State on Thursday night.
Although Durant's X-rays were negative and the sprain was mild, Oklahoma City elected to be cautious with its superstar, who made his season debut in early December after surgery on a broken right foot.
After Westbrook put the Thunder up 104-101 in the final minute, Jeremy Lin hit a jumper with 32 seconds left. Westbrook missed a shot to set up the Lakers' final shot, but Bryant's jumper clanged off the rim.
Ed Davis had a season-high 18 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers.
Nick Young was ejected with 11:24 to play after he retaliated to contact from Steven Adams with a forearm and elbow to the throat of the Oklahoma City center. Young had three 3-pointers and 11 points before his ejection.
Los Angeles jumped to an early 11-point lead during a monster start for Ronnie Price, who scored 11 points in the first 5 1/2 minutes. Westbrook led the Thunder back with 21 points in the first half, including 13 free throws without a miss.
After both teams led for long stretches of the first 3 1/2 quarters, they traded the lead down the stretch. Bryant put the Lakers up 99-98 with 2:36 left on a gorgeous fall away jumper, but it was his only basket of the fourth quarter, where he went 1 for 5.
------
TIP-INS
Thunder: Durant has missed 18 games this season after missing just 16 in his first seven NBA seasons combined. ... Jackson converted a four-point play in the third quarter. ...Serge Ibaka scored 16 points for Oklahoma City.
Lakers: Coach Byron Scott voiced pregame support for Lin, who lost his starting job and entered this game in a 15-for-53 shooting slump. Scott says Lin "has to stop thinking so much ... but I think it will start clicking for him pretty soon." ... The Lakers honored Bryant before the game for passing Michael Jordan and moving into third place on the NBA's career scoring list during their recent road trip. Bryant was joined by his wife and daughters on the court. ... The Lakers have lost 14 of 18 to the Thunder.
UP NEXT
Thunder: Host New Orleans on Sunday.
Lakers: At Sacramento on Sunday.