The league-best Oklahoma City Thunder claimed another victim on Wednesday night: the Los Angeles Lakers. The Thunder blew out the Lakers 121-92 in both one of their most triumphant wins of the season and one of the Lakers' worst.

Luka Dončić was held to just 19 points in the game, his lowest total this season, though that still led the Lakers' paltry scoring effort. 

"It wasn't our best game. Probably one of the worst of this season. But they [Thunder] did a great job... they're champions for a reason, so they showed that today," Dončić said (via Spectrum Sports Network). "I think we need to be more ready. It starts with me. I need to be way better than that."

The Thunder have outclassed their opponents in nearly every way this season. They bring both an overwhelming skill level to the court and a physicality that stops other teams in their tracks.

Bringing the Energy Early

Physicality was something found lacking in the Lakers on Wednesday. A slow start with just 18 points in the first quarter set the tone for the rest of the game and even as Los Angeles ramped up in the later quarters, the gap was already created and had grown far too wide to clear. 

Unenthusiastic starts have been a running theme in Laker losses this season. Each of the Lakers' four losses this season have begun with them being outscored in the first quarter and then unable to catch up later, particularly in the losses to the Thunder and Atlanta Hawks. 

"We've got to start the game better. I feel like when we start the game sloppy, it's not going to be a great game," Dončić said.

Finishing the Road Trip Strong

The Thunder game was a midpoint in a lackluster Los Angeles roadtrip where they've so far gone 1-2. That road trip finishes up with back-to-back games against the New Orleans Pelicans and the Milwaukee Bucks, representing a challenge in Milwaukee and what on paper reads as an easier matchup against New Orleans. 

While the Pelicans may be an easier challenge, Dončić and his team are sure not to underestimate the Pelicans and will need to use the game as a way to reset their mentality and patch up the mistakes they've made thus far.

"We need to bounce back. we need to get ready for the New Orleans game. I know they don't have a great record, but they're a physical team. We just need to start more physical. When we don't start physical it's tough on us so we just need to bring the energy and the physicality."