The Los Angeles Lakers matched the Oklahoma City Thunder’s intensity for most of Tuesday’s matchup, but a fourth-quarter lapse cost them a 119-110 decision in the final week before the All-Star break.
Both rosters were short their leading MVP candidates—Luka Doncic sat with a strained hamstring and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was sidelined by an abdominal injury—yet the night still featured LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. Los Angeles erased a nine-point halftime deficit and even built an eight-point advantage in the second half, only to see the Thunder surge back down the stretch at Crypto.com Arena.
After the game, first-year head coach JJ Redick applauded his players’ energy but said the team faltered in critical moments. He pointed to a late defensive miscue that left Williams open for a three-pointer and to several empty possessions when the Lakers failed to deliver the ball to James against smaller defenders. Redick stressed that beating an elite opponent requires both maximum effort and flawless execution, areas he felt diverged in the closing minutes.
James led the comeback with a series of efficient drives and kick-outs before Oklahoma City’s double-teams disrupted the Lakers’ rhythm. Los Angeles struggled to respond, scoring only sporadically while the Thunder capitalized at the other end.
The loss dropped the Lakers to 0-1 in a challenging stretch that precedes the midseason break. Even so, Redick called the contest a reminder that cleaning up defensive rotations and half-court organization could position the team to contend with the league’s best.
Off the court, vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka said the front office pursued numerous trade scenarios before Thursday’s deadline, ultimately adding guard Luke Kennard while preserving future flexibility.
Source: LakersNation.com
