The Los Angeles Lakers made a major statement to the Oklahoma City Thunder and the rest of the NBA by smashing the Thunder 126-99 on Sunday afternoon. Oklahoma City had come into the game with the league's best record and top-ranked defense, but the Lakers ripped that defense to shreds by shooting 54.8% from the field and going 22-of-40 from 3-point range.
Even better, they only needed 19 points from LeBron James. Luka Doncic led the assault with 30 efficient points, Austin Reaves scored 20 points and Dorian Finney-Smith and Gabe Vincent combined for 26 points off the bench.
But the Lakers are still a work in progress, even though they have now won five of their last seven games, a fact James publicly admitted after Sunday's game.
"They know who they are," James said. "… We are still trying to figure it out … We understand that coming down the stretch we have to play some really good basketball, but we’re still working our habits”
LeBron James on the win over OKC: “They know who they are … We are still trying to figure it out … We understand that coming down the stretch we have to play some really good basketball, but we’re still working our habits” pic.twitter.com/FiR75U15AE
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 6, 2025With a 48-30 record, Los Angeles is in third place in the Western Conference and is 1.5 games ahead of the fourth-place Denver Nuggets. Finishing with the third seed would put the team in a much stronger position going into the playoffs than getting the fourth seed, as it would give it an easier first-round playoff opponent and allow it to avoid the Thunder until the Western Conference Finals.
It will face the Thunder again at Paycom Center on Tuesday.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: LeBron James: Lakers are 'still trying to figure it out'
English (US) ·