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LeBron James and the Lakers begin Round 2 of their quest for an NBA Title tonight but standing in their way are the defending champs, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Minus Luka Dončić, LeBron and co. are heavy underdogs. OKC dominated the league and their treatment of the Lakers was no exception. The Thunder went 4-0 this season against Los Angeles winning by a whopping 29.3 points per game.
As if they needed more momentum and confidence, the Thunder probably got some of both in Round 1, sweeping the Suns in convincing fashion. Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander averaged 33.8 points and 8.0 assists in the four-game sweep, but their elite defense that was their calling card during the regular season, was the underlying storyline in Round 1. With home‑court advantage and a week of rest, the Thunder enter this game fully prepared and firmly in control of the narrative.
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Los Angeles arrives in Oklahoma City after grinding through a six‑game series against Houston, capped by a 98–78 win in Game 6. LeBron James continues to carry the Lakers, scoring 28 points in the closeout game, but as alluded to earlier, the team remains severely shorthanded. Luka Dončić is still out with a Grade 2 hamstring strain and has not progressed to full‑contact work, leaving the Lakers without their leading scorer and playmaker. The Lakers withstood a Rockets’ team in the Opening Round, but they will need to defend in this series if they even hope to contend and take even a couple games.
Matchup‑wise, the Thunder present problems at every level. Gilgeous‑Alexander is widely viewed as simply the toughest defensive assignment in the league, and OKC’s depth—featuring Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Ajay Mitchell—allows them to sustain pressure for 48 minutes. The Lakers, meanwhile, must rely heavily on LeBron and hope for strong contributions from the supporting cast including Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura. OKC has religiously collapsed around Lebron to force others to beat them…and they have failed to do so.
Ultimately, the Lakers face an uphill battle. They are on short rest, missing a superstar, and entering…
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Publish date : 2026-05-05 15:15:00
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