3 takeaways from Lakers’ Game 3 loss vs. Thunder

The Lakers headed into Game 3 in search of proof.

Proof that they could find a strategy that worked. Proof that they could find a lineup that clicked. Proof that they could beat the Oklahoma City Thunder. By the end of Saturday night, the only proof they had was that they could not do any of these things.

After getting crushed again by the Thunder, this time by the final score of 131-108, the Lakers find themselves on the verge of being swept. Although there were glimpses, there were ultimately few signs that a different result was on the horizon in Game 4. The team’s season very well may be over.

With plenty of time for reflection to come in the upcoming weeks, let’s remain in the present and take a look at the biggest takeaways from Game 3…

Second half woes continue

It may be hard to believe given the final scores, but the Lakers have held halftime leads in each of the last two games.

Thanks to a strong defensive effort on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and hot shooting from behind the arc in the first half — including Rui Hachimura and Luke Kennard drilling seven of their eight threes — the Lakers clung to a two-point advantage after two quarters.

Then the third quarter started and the team experienced a collective case of déjà vu. As has happened all series, the Thunder imposed their will in the second half, snuffing out anything that worked for the Lakers earlier in the game.

The Thunder accomplished this by following an eerily similar script. They hustled and grabbed every loose ball, secured back-breacking offensive rebounds and turned the Lakers over ad nauseam.

By the end of the game, the Thunder ended up outscoring the Lakers in the second half by 25, with the trio of Ajay Mitchell, Cason Wallace and Isaiah Joe having nearly as many points (45) as the Lakers did combined (49).

Playing well for two quarters isn’t enough to beat a team like the Thunder. You have to be as close to perfect for all 48 minutes. That’s especially the case for the Lakers’ best players.

The Lakers need more from their Big 2

Even with a healthy Luka Dončić, the Lakers were never going to be able to match the Thunder’s immense depth. Their best bet in the series would be for one of, if not multiple, of their stars to be able to be the best players on the floor in every game. That has not been the case.

Given the talent deficit, the Lakers could not afford an off night from LeBron James or Austin Reaves, and especially not both, if they had hopes of pulling off the upset.

In what essentially was the Lakers’ last hope to get back into the series, James and Reaves combined for just 36 points on 37.5% shooting from the field. They also turned it over eight times.

Admittedly, it is an unfair ask of James and Reaves to propel the Lakers over the reigning champions nearly single-handedly. But it is the reality of the situation, and it is fair to expect them to reach a certain threshold to give the team a fighting chance.

Both James and Reaves have had their moments in the series, and neither will ultimately be the reason the Lakers will lose it. The issue is, neither James nor Reaves is why they’re in it.

Any buttons left to press?

Historically, there are not many cards a head coach can play once their team is on the verge of getting swept that could change the fortunes of a series.

That is even more the case when that team is without its best player and facing an opposition as dominant as the current Thunder team. But that is the job head coach JJ Redick and his staff will be tasked with ahead of Game 4 on Monday.

From a strategic standpoint, Redick has coached a good series. It just hasn’t mattered enough to overcome the Thunder’s advantages over the Lakers. That doesn’t mean he’s stopped trying.

In Game 3, Redick shuffled his rotation once again. After a rough postseason from an offensive standpoint, Redick decided not to play Jake LaRavia on Saturday and, instead, gave the likes of Adou Thiero and Maxi Kleber playing time.

The move ultimately didn’t move the needle enough, as the final score could attest. But it is an example of the type of outside-the-box thinking that’s all that’s left to do. And perhaps, in the process, the team can find something to build on now and into the future.

All stats courtesy of Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise stated. You can follow Alex on Bluesky at @alexregla.bsky.social

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