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Lakers forward Stanley Johnson dunks during the first half of their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Zavier Simpson fouls Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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Lakers guard Malik Monk passes against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Isaiah Roby (22) and guard Vit Krejci (27) during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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Lakers guard Austin Reaves controls the ball as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylen Hoard gives chase during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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Injured Lakers stars LeBron James, left, and Anthony Davis sit on the bench during the first half of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Melvin Frazier Jr. drives to the basket past the Lakers’ Stanley Johnson during the first half of their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Vit Krejci, back, defends against Lakers center Dwight Howard during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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Oklahoma City Thunder forward Georgios Kalaitzakis dunks during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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Lakers guard Austin Reaves shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Melvin Frazier Jr., left, and guard Zavier Simpson during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Vit Krejci passes around Lakers center Dwight Howard during the first half of their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Zavier Simpson, left, defends against Lakers guard D.J. Augustin during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Zavier Simpson attempts a shot in front of Lakers center Dwight Howard during the first half of their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Lakers coach Frank Vogel watches the action down the court during the first half of their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Vit Krejci fouls Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Melvin Frazier Jr., left, and Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker dive for a loose ball during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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Lakers guard Malik Monk shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Isaiah Roby defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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Lakers guard Malik Monk shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Isaiah Roby defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. The short-handed Lakers defeated a six-player Thunder squad, 120-101, to end their eight-game losing streak. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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Injured Lakers stars LeBron James, left, and Anthony Davis watch play from the far end of the bench during the first half of their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, second from left, watches as candles are lit on his birthday cake during a celebration for his 75th birthday during halftime of a game between the Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, center, celebrates his 75th birthday with other NBA legends and friends during halftime of a game between the Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar waves to the crowd as he is presented with a cake in celebration of his 75th birthday during halftime of a game between the Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Melvin Frazier Jr. shoots as Lakers guard Wayne Ellington defends during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker is guarded by Vit Krejci of the Oklahoma City Thunder during their game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Lakers guard Mason Jones shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Zavier Simpson (9) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Friday, April 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Zavier Simpson (9) shoots against Lakers guard Malik Monk (11) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Friday, April 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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Lakers forward Wenyen Gabriel reacts as he is fouled between Zavier Simpson (9) and Jaylen Hoard (14) of the Oklahoma City Thunder during their game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Lakers guard Wayne Ellington shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylen Hoard (14) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Friday, April 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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The Lakers’ Malik Monk dribbles in front of Melvin Frazier Jr. (6) and Zavier Simpson (9) of the Oklahoma City Thunder during their game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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The Lakers’ Stanley Johnson scores on a shot over Zavier Simpson of the Oklahoma City Thunder during their game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Lakers guard Wayne Ellington scores on a layup over Jaylen Hoard of the Oklahoma City Thunder during their game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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The Lakers’ D.J. Augustin attempts a pass to Wenyen Gabriel (35) as he drives to the basket on Jaylen Hoard (14) of the Oklahoma City Thunder during their game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Lakers guard Austin Reaves drives to the basket past Vit Krejci of the Oklahoma City Thunder during their game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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The Lakers’ Stanley Johnson reacts as he is fouled by Melvin Frazier Jr. of the Oklahoma City Thunder during their game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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The Lakers’ Mason Jones celebrates his basket after also drawing a foul during their game against the Thunder on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Lakers players celebrate after a shot by guard Mason Jones, not pictured, during the second half of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
LOS ANGELES — The biggest stars who took the court on Friday night were older than even the current Lakers roster.
The franchise threw a birthday bash for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s upcoming 75th birthday, culminating in a halftime keytar “Happy Birthday” performance by Herbie Hancock with Bill Walton, James Worthy, Spencer Haywood and Byron Scott among others surrounding an oversized cake.
But without LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony, what was left of the Lakers (32-49) was actually able to win, 120-101, against the ragtag Oklahoma City Thunder (24-57). While the victory was largely symbolic – the team is already eliminated from the postseason – it did snap an eight-game losing streak and notched the Lakers’ first home win since March 11.
It might have been a welcome result on Fan Appreciation night – although winning a little sooner than now might have been most appreciated by the sellout crowd. Still, the Lakers and Coach Frank Vogel milked a little delight in finally getting on the right side of the win column.
“I don’t care if we’re eliminated or not,” Vogel said. “We’ve lost eight straight games, it’s time to get a W.”
Leading the way was Stanley Johnson, who scored 21 points in a season-high effort. But many hands made for light work on offense: Eight of the nine Lakers who played scored at least 10 points.
The competition would best be forgotten. The Thunder are in the midst of a spectacular tanking campaign, playing a six-man rotation that includes Georgios Kalaizakis and Vit Krejci. But with the Lakers attempting to dodge a 50-loss season, they’ll take the wins they can get.
Johnson said the team was fueled by the trash-talking they’ve heard lately: “People love to kick you when you’re down.
“As a competitor, you talk and you back it up and good for you, shake your hand, go home and get better,” Johnson said. “So that’s what I intend to do, I think we all intend to do that and come back and hopefully everybody has the same type of energy next year.”
Wenyen Gabriel scored 16 points, while Dwight Howard and Talen Horton-Tucker each had 15. Horton-Tucker and Malik Monk each had five assists as the Lakers improved to 11-30 since Jan. 7.
The team got a special kind of thrill out of two-way contract player Mason Jones scoring 13 points, including an and-one basket and leaping into the courtside seats for loose balls. Vogel said the 23-year-old brought a joy to the game that the Lakers haven’t felt much of lately.
“He played 43 minutes last night for South Bay, so he’s coming in exhausted today and we threw him out there and he played really well and he showed all that possible fight,” Vogel said. “This is what these guys with a basketball journey is all about, opportunities like tonight.”
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