The Los Angeles Lakers slipped into a 2-0 hole in the Western Conference semifinals after Wednesday’s 124-107 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. Guard Luke Kennard, who supplied 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting off the bench, said postgame that limiting turnovers and sustaining composure are essential to stopping Oklahoma City’s momentum swings.
“They do a good job of capitalizing on turnovers,” Kennard said. “We just have to stay poised and under control when they go on those runs. It’s going to take a full 48 minutes.”
Los Angeles committed 20 turnovers, which the Thunder converted into 26 points. The decisive stretch came in the third quarter, when Oklahoma City ripped off a 32-14 run while All-NBA guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sat with four fouls. Reserves Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain fueled the surge, leaving the Lakers outscored by 15 points in Gilgeous-Alexander’s absence.
“Those guys come in and they’re a spark for them,” Kennard noted. “We have to be better, especially when Shai is out of the game.”
Focusing two defenders on Gilgeous-Alexander has opened opportunities for Oklahoma City’s supporting cast, Kennard added. “Our physicality has to go up another level,” he said. “When Shai’s off the floor, we really have to sit down and guard.”
Forward Rui Hachimura echoed the sentiment in the locker room, saying the Lakers may be concentrating too heavily on Gilgeous-Alexander and must respect the Thunder’s depth.
Game 3 is scheduled for Friday at Crypto.com Arena, where Los Angeles will try to cut the series deficit in half.
Source: LakersNation.com
