The Lakers are officially on the brink. After a 131-108 drubbing by the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles now trails 3-0 in the Western Conference semifinals and is one loss from going home. Game 4 is set for Monday night, with the Lakers trying to keep their season alive in front of a restless home crowd.
Mitchell, Shai, And A Thunder Offense With No Weak Links
Ajay Mitchell chose a rough night for Lakers fans to have his coming-out party. The guard posted a career-high 24 points and 10 assists, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander piled on 23 points and nine assists as Oklahoma City unleashed a deep, balanced attack that Los Angeles simply could not track. LeBron James finished with 19 points, eight assists and six rebounds, Rui Hachimura added 21 and Austin Reaves chipped in 17 points and nine assists, but the Lakers' stars were outgunned by the Thunder's depth. According to the Associated Press via CBS Sports, the victory pushed Oklahoma City to 7-0 in this postseason.
Third-Quarter Meltdown Flips The Game
For a half, the Lakers looked like they might have a fight in them, taking a 59-57 lead into the break. Then the third quarter hit. The Thunder ripped off a 33-20 edge in the frame, shooting 59.1 percent from the field while Los Angeles unraveled. The Lakers coughed up six turnovers in the quarter and allowed Oklahoma City to hit 55.6 percent from three, a brutal combo that turned a tight contest into a runaway as the Thunder's lead ballooned in the late fourth. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, the Lakers have now dropped all three games of the series by double digits.
Redick Zeroes In On The Non-Shai Minutes
Head coach JJ Redick was blunt about one of the recurring problems. "Well, you know, again, I’ll repeat what I said after the game: we’ve got to be better in the non-Shai minutes," he said, pointing straight at the bench rotations and defensive lapses when Gilgeous-Alexander sits, per the Los Angeles Times. His focus on those stretches highlights a theme of the series so far: Oklahoma City's role players have routinely outplayed Los Angeles' reserves.
LeBron's Contract Clock Ticks Louder
Layered on top of the scoreboard is the reality of LeBron James' situation. The 41-year-old is in the final year of a deal that pays him roughly $52.6 million this season and is set to become a free agent this offseason, raising the stakes on what happens next for both James and the franchise. Per Spotrac, that salary slot and his looming free agency virtually guarantee that Monday's outcome will factor heavily into offseason conversations, no matter how the series ultimately ends.
What The Lakers Need In Game 4
Game 4 tips off Monday night at Crypto.com Arena, where the Lakers will need far sharper execution if they want to even book a flight to Oklahoma City. Cleaner possessions, more disciplined defense and, yes, far better non-Shai minutes are mandatory if Los Angeles hopes to force a Game 5. According to the Associated Press via CBS Sports, the quick turnaround leaves the Lakers with little room for tinkering as the Thunder look to finish off a sweep.
