The Oklahoma City Thunder (26-18) have struggled in 2019, losing five of their last six match-ups, hitting a new low on Thursday night in a 138-128 overtime defeat on home court at the hands of the shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers. The Thunder were again firing on all cylinders offensively, but failed to find their groove on defense, despite the fact that they rank 10th in the NBA in defense, holding opponents to a respectable average of 108.9 points per game. All starters posted double digits in the loss, led in scoring by Paul George, who finished with 27 points, eight assists and seven rebounds, going 5-of-12 from long range in the process. Russell Westbrook and Steven Adams each had double-doubles on the night; Westbrook behind 26 points, 13 assists and five three-pointers, and Adams on the strength of a 17-point, 15-rebound outing. Terrance Ferguson delivered six of the team's 22 triples in the affair, putting up 21 points, as OKC now maintains a tenuous grasp on third place in the Western Conference, with the fourth place Portland Trail Blazers hot on their heels.

Thursday night also saw the Indiana Pacers (30-16) win their third straight game, taking care of the Indiana Pacers on the road, 120-96, to pull within a hair of third place in the Eastern Conference. The Sixers were buoyed by Jimmy Butler's team-high 27 points, as he added 6-of-6 shooting from the free throw line and dished out eight assists along the way. Joel Embiid logged a double-double, his league-leading 38th of the season, dropping 22 points and grabbing eight boards, while J.J. Redick continued to deliver from downtown, going 6-of-9 from deep on his way to 20 points. Ben Simmons had 11 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for a Philly team that's finding their mojo as the halfway point of their 2018-19 season comes into view, with tough match-ups in the coming week versus the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors.