Season 45 Featured Game No. 7...Oklahoma City at Los Angeles

Los Angeles 66, Oklahoma City 58
L.A.'s defense wins battle for first in West
LOS ANGELES -- The short-handed Los Angeles Big One used defensive intensity to unseat the visiting Oklahoma City Lariats 66-58, replacing them at the top of the West Division heap.

Despite missing starters Dr. Marcus Brody and Baba Brinkman (both injured), the L.A. team demonstrated their depth by holding the visitors to 45.5 percent shooting, preventing 20 points by the Lariats in the process. The Lariats entered the contest as the top scoring team in the MBA, making L.A.'s defensive accomplishment all the more impressive.

The win by Los Angeles makes The Big One 5-2 with 4 division wins. Oklahoma City, with its 4-game winning streak snapped, is also 5-2 with 3 division wins.

Currently in its sixth season in LaLa Land, The Big One has yet to make the playoffs, but appears on track to do so. The closest they came since moving from Houston was last season's 6-4 finish, good for third place.

POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTERS
Oklahoma City 4 - 2 - 0 - 2 Total=8
Los Angeles 6 - 2 - 4 - 8 Total=20

Turnovers created by Oklahoma City---2
Turnovers created by Los Angeles---6

TOP PLAYERS IN POINTS PREVENTED
1. Sloppy Dollop, L.A. 8
2. Chuctcher Mouthchair, L.A. 6

TOP PLAYERS IN TURNOVERS CREATED
1. Norman Conquest, L.A. 3
2. Sloppy Dollop, L.A. 2

PLAYER OF GAME
Fourth-year center CHUTCHER MOUTHCHAIR of Los Angeles had an outstanding game, leading all players in three categories, with game-highs in points (17), rebounds (8) and blocked shots (3). This is the best season Mouthchair has put together in the MBA. The 6-11 stalwart captured his third POG of the season, tying the inactive Chip Battoe for most in the league. He distinguished himself in this game despite going up against one of the best defensive centers in the league. Mouthchair was 8 for 10 from the floor, with 5 of those buckets coming from big down-low moves that ended with thundering dunks. He was 1 for 1 at the foul line and also added 2 assists. Additionally Mouthchair prevented the second-most points in the game, 6.

Other 20-plus GVP performers
-- Retiring Los Angeles forward Sloppy Dollop also had one helluva game for the victors, scoring 16 points, grabbing 4 boards, leading everyone with 4 assists and blocking a pair of shots as well as preventing the most points and finishing second in causing the most turnovers.

-- 7-footer Tom Foolerie has filled in admirably in Baba Brinkman's absence. In this game, the big forward had 11 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocked shots to complete the deal for The Big One's front court.

-- Oklahoma City's 7-foot center Willie Carry McCoffee scored 14 points, snared 6 rebounds and had 1 assist in the loss.

-- Anurag Dickshit returned to Los Angeles for the first time since being traded to Oklahoma City and played a spirited game which included a team-high 15 points, 6 rebounds and 1 blocked shot.

NEXT UP: Trying to chase down the two 5-2 teams in the West, opponents San Jose (3-3) and Sacramento (2-4) square off at the latter's home court. Neither can afford to lose, especially the defending champion R-Dogs.