LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers were swept out of the postseason on Monday night, but head coach JJ Redick left Crypto.com Arena emphasizing the energy provided by both his roster and the crowd during a 115-110 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4.
“I thought the crowd was awesome tonight,” Redick said after the game. “You’ve seen 3-0 games before where a team can let go of the rope. We didn’t, and our fans were awesome.”
Facing elimination, the Lakers clawed back from several deficits. Oklahoma City opened the night with hot perimeter shooting, used a 17-0 run in the second quarter and capitalized on third-quarter turnovers, yet Los Angeles still held a narrow lead entering the final 12 minutes. According to the Thunder, it was the first time all season they trailed heading into the fourth quarter.
Throughout the evening, the arena remained loud and engaged. Secondary-market get-in prices had fallen to roughly $90, a drop that appeared to draw a broader cross-section of supporters than the usual celebrity-heavy playoff crowd.
In his postgame remarks, Redick also reflected on a campaign shaped by injuries. Luka Doncic sustained a left hamstring strain on April 2, and Austin Reaves missed time with a left oblique strain before returning for six postseason contests. “We experienced everything this year,” Redick said, noting that half the roster is headed for free agency. “I didn’t want our season to end. I wanted to keep this thing going.”
The defeat ends Redick’s first season at the helm and sends Oklahoma City to the next round while Los Angeles turns its attention to an offseason filled with roster decisions.
Source: LakersNation.com
