LOS ANGELES, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Oklahoma City Thunder took down the Los Angeles Lakers 113-96 on Wednesday as they visited the Staples center, handing the Lakers their eighth straight defeat.

The Lakers started the game by storming to a 10-point lead, but lost all of their energy after the Thunder tightened up their defence.

Tied at 26 points apiece at the end of the first quarter, the Thunder increased their lead as play went on, despite Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony and Paul George rarely appearing on court after the second quarter.

The three superstars all played less than 27 minutes, but managed to score more than 20 points while Westbrook took 12 assists. Terrance Ferguson from the Thunders' bench got 24 points, making six out of his nine three pointers.

With the loss, the Lakers fall to the bottom of the Western Conference with only 11 wins, and many fans expressed their hopelessness on social media.

"Can we PLEASE stop showing the Lakers on National Television every week?" Mark Gunnels, a sports columnist based in Los Angeles, tweeted after the game.