Lakers Stare Down Elimination After Falling Behind 3-0 to Thunder
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The Los Angeles Lakers will try to avoid a second-round sweep on Monday night after losing the first three games of their Western Conference series to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Head coach JJ Redick said his message following Sunday’s practice was simple: “Win the day.” Redick told reporters the staff conducted a brief offensive review before turning to defensive adjustments. “We know what we’re facing being down 3-0,” he added, calling the session “more of a mindset check than anything else.” No NBA team has ever lost a series after taking a 3-0 lead; clubs in that position are a combined 161-0.
Hachimura’s Hot Hand
Forward Rui Hachimura is averaging 18.3 points and shooting 57.1% from three-point range in the series. The 28-year-old, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, said Los Angeles cannot afford energy lapses—especially after halftime. “Every game we’re getting closer,” Hachimura noted. “Our focus is how we play in the first half; we have to do that the whole game.”
Hachimura acknowledged the Lakers have concentrated their defense on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, allowing other Thunder players to capitalize. He praised Oklahoma City’s clarity of roles, saying, “Everybody knows their roles … they embrace their roles. That’s where the difference is.”
Reaves Races Back
Guard Austin Reaves was initially projected to miss the second round with a strained oblique, but daily stints in a hyperbaric chamber at UCLA Medical Center accelerated his return for Game 5 of the opening round. “I left my house every day around 7:30 in the morning to get treatment and didn’t come home until about 8 at night,” Reaves told ESPN.
Depth vs. Star Power
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that even with a healthy roster, Los Angeles has struggled to match the Thunder’s depth and continuity. Former Laker Alex Caruso, now a key defensive piece in Oklahoma City, said playing on such a connected team “feels great.”
Ayton Still Trusted
Starting center Deandre Ayton, who had two defensive breakdowns during the pivotal third quarter of Game 3, received a vote of confidence from Redick. “I know how special he is for our group to succeed,” the coach said, recalling Ayton’s impact in the first-round victory over Houston. “I believe in him and he’s going to help us win tomorrow.”
Game 4 tips off Monday at Crypto.com Arena, where the Lakers must “win the day” to extend their postseason.
Source: Hoops Rumors
