Russell Westbrook’s ejection capped the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss to Oklahoma City Thunder after a 26-point lead

OKLAHOMA CITY – Russell Westbrook said “It’s my fault, it’s me” when asked about his double-digit sales in the Lakers’ 123-115 loss to the Thunder on Wednesday. But he stood by his actions that resulted in his being ejected in the final seconds, which marred his return to OKC.

“The way I play the game I’m rather old-fashioned,” said Westbrook, explaining why he had a problem with Thunder’s Darius Bazley for scoring goals in an outlier dunk with 1.5 seconds remaining instead of the clock dribble. “And if s — happens, I don’t let it slip. … In basketball there are certain things you just don’t do. Like baseball, you don’t turn the bat. There are certain things you do in sports don’t do it when the game is over. And I didn’t like that. It’s that simple. “

Westbrook pointed at Bazley and yelled, “Don’t do this,” repeatedly before teammates got between the two and Westbrook received a technical foul – his second of the night, which resulted in the ejection.

It was the final dark scene in one night’s disaster for the Lakers when they failed to maintain a 26-point lead in the first half and went 0-3 and against in the last 30 seconds of potential game-defining 3s a. lost the Thunder team that came 0-4 into the night.

“A disappointing defeat, but a lesson learned,” said Lakers coach Frank Vogel. “An NBA season is a long season and a lesson for our group that you can’t take your foot off the gas against anyone.”

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As much as growing pains were to be expected from a Lakers team that brought in 12 new players and juggled a handful of injuries with LeBron James, Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn, Trevor Ariza and Wayne Ellington, Anthony Davis did not accept that crutch.

“This is not an adjustment period at all,” said Davis, whose 30 points and eight rebounds were for nothing. “Not this game. It’s just aimed straight at us. … This is not an adaptation game that makes me feel like, ‘Oh, we’re still learning each other.’ … No. Not this game. “

Two worrying trends early in the season continued for LA: too many ball losses and too little defense.

The Lakers have now allowed 115 points or more in all five of their games through their 2-3 start, which is the longest such streak to start a season in franchise history, according to data from ESPN Stats & Information.

And Westbrook turned his first triple-double in a Lakers jersey (20 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists) into a quadruple double by flipping the ball 10 times. This after nine ball losses against the Memphis Grizzlies a few days ago.

“I have to watch the ball,” said Westbrook, taking the blame. “Too many mishaps are allowed. It’s my fault. It’s up to me. But I’ll take care of it. I know that. And keep the game simple. Because we need these possessions, especially in games like this one.”

According to Statmuse, Westbrook has had the most quadruple doubles (including sales) in the NBA since 1985, with six. The next player is his former teammate James Harden at three.

Despite all of this, LA still had a chance of getting away with a win on Wednesday.

With the Lakers 118-115 lagging behind, Westbrook’s pull-up attempt clinked from the top of the key with 27.3 seconds remaining from the back edge.

Then, after forcing the Thunder into an 8-second backcourt injury, it was Malik Monk’s turn to try to tie it and he shot a step-back airball from 27 feet that was 12.4 seconds forward sailed out of the game.

LA got another bite of the apple when Carmelo Anthony stole rookie Josh Giddey’s inbound pass intended for Kenrich Williams, which slid to the ground. Like Monk, Anthony’s 3 found nothing but nothing, as he too shot a ball with 5.7 seconds to go.

“It just occurred to me, man,” said Anthony, who took 13 points off the bench. “But I didn’t have full control over it. I tried to spin it without having full control over it. My stand wasn’t right. I only saw daylight. “

Now the Lakers are trying to see a silver lining, which was a rocky start for a group that made no bones about their championship expectations.

“It’s not fun the moment you lose a game like this,” said Vogel. “But I think at the end of the day, if we’re so pushed every night, it will sharpen us. It’s going to be good for us in the long run, but you have to play it through and find a way to win. “

LA will return home to host the Cleveland Cavaliers and could still be without James when they go up against his former team as he is seen day after day as he recovers from a sore right ankle that took him off the last two games.

“S —, we’d better leave it here,” said Anthony. “I mean, it’s hard to lose. … But we’d better leave that here and get ready for Friday.”