Lakers vs. Thunder

Thunder power forward Serge Ibaka is too late to prevent a dunk by Lakers forward Metta World Peace in the first half Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Metta World Peace squares up to Thunder power forward Serge Ibaka, who tracked World Peace down after he leveled guard James Harden with an elbow to the side of the head while celebrating a dunk late in the second quarter Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Thunder guard James Harden lies on the court as his teammates chase after Lakers forward Metta World Peace (not pictured), who elbowed Harden in the side of the head while celebrating a dunk late in the second quarter Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers power forward Pau Gasol (16) and two officials try to keep players separated after forward Metta World Peace (15) leveled Thunder guard James Harden with an elbow to the side of the head late in the second quarter Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.  (Reed Saxon / Associated Press)

Thunder teammates check on guard James Harden after he was injured by an elbow to the head from Lakers forward Metta World Peace late in the second quarter Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.  (Reed Saxon / Associated Press)

Lakers forward Metta World Peace pleads his case to referee Gary Zielisnki after getting ejected with a flagrant-two foul when he elbowed Thunder guard James Harden in the head late in the second quarter Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.   (Michael Nelson / EPA)

Lakers power forward Pau Gasol recoils after colliding with Thunder power forward Serge Ibaka, who was called for a foul on the play Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers power forward Jordan Hill pulls down one of his 15 rebounds next to Thunder center Kendrick Perkins on Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers big men Pau Gasol (16) and Jordan Hill (27) team to block a shot by Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook on Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers forward Metta World Peace tries to knock the ball from Thunder forward Nick Collison as he passes the ball during Sunday’s game.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers center Andrew Bynum fouls Thunder power forward Serge Ibaka during their game Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant blocks a shot by Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook after a foul was called on Steve Blake (not pictured) during their game Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Thunder point guard Derek Fisher tries to steal the ball from Lakers point guard Steve Blake during the game Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Thunder guard James Harden goes for the steal against Lakers forward Metta World Peace in the first half Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.   (Michael Nelson / EPA)

Lakers guard Ramon Sessions looks to pass after driving to the basket and drawing the defense of Thunder big men Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins (5) in the first half Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.   (Stephen Dunn / Getty Images)

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook drives against Lakers guard Kobe Bryant in 2012.

Lakers point guard Ramon Sessions drives for a layup against the Thunder in the first half Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.  (Stephen Dunn / Getty Images)

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant tries to back down Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha in the first half Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.   (Michael Nelson / EPA)

Lakers big men Andrew Bynum (17) and Pau Gasol (16) force Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook to pass after he drove down the late in the first half Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.   (Stephen Dunn / Getty Images)