(News4usonline) – The Los Angeles Lakers lost their third straight game as they were no match for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Injuries have hit the Lakers hard as the end of the regular season is near. Missing key critical rotational players, the Lakers were unable to defeat the Thunder, as they lost, 123-87.
The Thunder made half of their field goal attempts, including knocking down 51 percent of their three-point attempts (21 of 41) against a Lakers’ starting lineup of Deandre Ayton, Luke Kennard, Drew Timme, Jake LaRavia, and Rui Hachimura.
“I think for basically 18 minutes we fought hard,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said. “We were tied 42-42, we really tried to protect the paint tonight and put an emphasis on that with our shifts and our low man. They hit 21 threes.”
Missing Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Lebron James, this was a significant loss for the purple and gold. Los Angeles was also missing key role players such as Marcus Smart and Jaxson Hayes.
This was an uphill battle from the start. Despite so many players sidelined for the Lakers, LA kept the game close for a short period.
In the first quarter, the Lakers were able to manage a level of competitiveness against the Thunder. The game was close as the Lakers needed an all hands-on-deck contribution line. They found early help from Timme.
Timme (11 points overall) was an early scoring threat as he finished with 10 points in the first period. With so many players down for Los Angeles, it was important for someone getting more time to step up early. Timme initiated the offense and had a lot of ball handling abilities.
Entering the second quarter of action, the Lakers continued to play hard.
“The guys for the most part fought hard and put a lot into it,” Redick said. “We’re undermanned right now and it is important that everybody is trying to play the right way and for the team. And I think, certainly there was a number of guys that did some good things tonight. ”
Despite the Lakers early efforts, the Thunder would eventually take over the game in the second quarter.
After the Lakers tied the game at 42-42, the Thunder went on an extended run to take the lead. Once OKC guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the favorite to win the NBA’s regular season MVP award, re-entered the game, the Thunder never looked back.
The Thunder closed the second quarter and first half leading, 65-47. Once they took the lead they never looked back.
“It took us a minute,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said afterward. “I think it was tied at 42 at one point. And then the group that finished the first half did a really good job of stringing together stops and quality possessions on offense, gave a cushion at halftime. And then we continued that in the second half.”
The second half for the Lakers was more about giving several of their young players some extended playing time. There was a lot of effort, but the Lakers at this point, were no match for the defending NBA champions.
The Thunder never allowed the Lakers to get back in the game. It became a blowout by the middle of the third quarter.
Closing the season, it appears the Lakers’ injuries have piled up to where some players will need to step up in order to achieve their desired success.
Playing hard and with effort is important for every game, but that won’t get you far into the postseason. As the Lakers saw against OKC, it is not enough to have talent. The Lakers were far too shorthanded to compete in a full game against the Thunder.
This article first appeared in The Compton Bulletin
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