OKLAHOMA CITY — The Lakers were well aware of the challenge that stood in front of them with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night.

The defending NBA champions, who had the league’s best defense last season, have expanded the gap between themselves and the rest of the NBA on that end of the court despite All-NBA/All-Defense wing Jalen Williams being sidelined to start the season and All-Defense forward Lu Dort missing six of the past seven games.

The Lakers knew they had to be decisive against a Thunder team that doesn’t concede many advantages. Wait too long, and those openings are no longer available. Wait even longer, and the Thunder, the league’s second-best team at forcing turnovers, would weaponize the Lakers’ indecision or stagnation with transition scoring.

And that’s eve

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