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Lakers lost Game 1 by 18. It might only get worse vs. Thunder

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Right before Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder tipped off on Tuesday, May 5, Lakers head coach JJ Redick took a seat on the bench, closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He’s going to need to take a few more throughout this series.

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Because even though the Lakers led for most of the first quarter, even though they hung around for the first three quarters and were a foul call and a missed buzzer-beater away from going into halftime trailing by just five points, it just wasn’t enough to keep it all from unraveling in a 108-90 loss.

Redick’s gameplan was solid. LeBron James had 27 points, six assists and four rebounds. Four of the Lakers’ five starters scored in double figures. None of it was enough.

Not against this Thunder squad. Redick said it himself when he told reporters pregame that “we’ve sucked against this team.”

Sure, Austin Reaves had a very, very rough night. And LA as a whole struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 33% from long range. But it was clear that the Lakers were simply bested and worn down by a well-rounded team. They were outscored 39-25 over the final 18 minutes. They had no answer for Chet Holmgren and their offense looked completely stumped by OKC’s physical defense by the final frame, which translated to easy buckets far too often as the Lakers allowed 20 points off of their 18 turnovers.

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“Once you make a couple mental mistakes, it seems like they take advantage of every one of them,” Reaves told reporters.

It all underscores one simple sentiment that has reverberated throughout NBA discussion circles: the Lakers just don’t have a chance of winning this series. Not without Luka Doncic.

NBA GAME 1 WINNERS, LOSERS: Thunder overpower Lakers; Pistons prevail

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Luka Dončić carries the physical toll of a demanding season

Luka Dončić carried a heavy workload throughout the season, often playing through physical challenges as the wear of the schedule accumulated.

Now sidelined for the remainder of the regular season, these images reflect moments when the strain of the year was visible as Dončić worked through injuries while leading his team.

Above, Luka Dončić of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on from the bench at the end of the third quarter against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on March 19, 2026, in Miami, Florida.

“When you play against great defense, you have to have guys that can attract multiple defenders on the floor at all times,” James told reporters. “… When you play against the world champions, having a guy that averages 34, 35, that’s special.”

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But even if Doncic — whose rehab from a Grade 2 right hamstring strain that’s kept him sidelined since April 2 has been slow going — returns at some point this series, how effective will he really be? That’s not to say he won’t play well, because he more than likely will. Doncic has historically played some of his best ball in the playoffs, even in series that his teams have been overmatched in (see: 2020 and 2021 against the Clippers, 2024 NBA Finals against the Celtics), and that has a good chance of being the case in this series.

The Lakers did many things right in Game 1, like holding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to a season-low 18 points and just three free throws and forced him to turn the ball over seven times, the most he’s had since last season’s Finals. They had open shots that just didn’t drop. The offense was hot to start the game and good enough to claw back into it in stretches, but they weren’t able to keep a consistent effort on both ends of the floor throughout the entire game. Each time the Lakers made a run, OKC responded with a bigger one. The Thunder showed just how much deeper their roster is, as shown by their bench outscoring LA, 34-15.

“We had some gameplan breakdowns,” James told reporters. “They’re gonna test you. They’re gonna see how many times they can make you have gameplan breakdowns, and we had a few. Almost too many versus a team like this.”

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Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style

The NBA playoffs bring out more than high‑stakes basketball, as stars showcase their sneaker style on the league’s biggest stage.

See the coolest kicks worn during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, where footwear becomes part of the spotlight.

Above, The shoes of Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.

There’s plenty of areas for the Lakers to clean up for Game 2 and beyond. Reaves can play better and Doncic can come back before it’s too late, but there’s a decent chance almost none of it might matter beyond a game or two.

That’s just how much of a gap there is between them and a championship team.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lakers outclassed by Thunder in Game 1

Read the full article here

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