Oklahoma City @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 24, 2017 ) L.A. Lakers 93, Oklahoma City 110

The Oklahoma City Thunder ended 2017 in a bit of a funk on the defensive end and dropped their last two contests after a six-game winning streak. The Los Angeles Lakers, who host the Thunder on Wednesday, know all about struggles on the defensive end and are allowing an average of 117.3 points during a seven-game slide.

Oklahoma City allowed the Dallas Mavericks to shoot 51.7 percent from the floor on Sunday and surrendered 32 fourth-quarter points in a 116-113 loss. "(The Mavericks) ran the same thing, made us make adjustments," forward Carmelo Anthony told reporters. "(They) challenged our communication level tonight and they won the game." The Lakers allowed the Minnesota Timberwolves to shoot 49.4 percent from the field in a 114-96 road loss on Monday, but it was some sloppy play at the offensive end that often put the defense in a bind. "We turned the ball over 24 times," Los Angeles coach Luke Walton told reporters. "When you try to win on the road, if you're going to turn the ball over and foul the home team, you're going to make it pretty impossible for yourself."

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, FS Oklahoma

ABOUT THE THUNDER (20-17): While Oklahoma City waits for its defense to catch up to its offense, reigning MVP Russell Westbrook continues to put up outstanding numbers. Westbrook collected 38 points on 17-of-28 shooting, 15 rebounds and 11 assists in the loss to the Mavericks and averaged a triple-double in December at 27.8 points, 10.6 assists and 10.2 rebounds. "Just read and react. See how teams are guarding," Westbrook told reporters. "Sometimes it's different every night, you just have to read it."

ABOUT THE LAKERS (11-25): Los Angeles sits in last place in the Western Conference and is 29th in the NBA in scoring defense while allowing opponents an average of 111.3 points. Rookie Kyle Kuzma leads the team in scoring (17.5 points) but is fighting through a quad bruise and was limited to six points on 2-of-7 shooting in the loss at Minnesota. Kuzma, who is day-to-day, logged at least 40 minutes in five of the Lakers' previous eight games, including 43 minutes in a double-overtime loss at Houston on Sunday that left the whole team fatigued at Minnesota.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Lakers PG Lonzo Ball (shoulder) sat out the last five games and remains day-to-day.

2. Thunder SF Paul George (knee) returned from a one-game absence and scored 25 points in 35 minutes on Sunday.

3. Westbrook averaged 28 points, 15.3 assists and 12.3 rebounds as the Oklahoma City took two of three from Los Angeles last season.

PREDICTION: Thunder 119, Lakers 106