![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2275097698-scaled-e1778285278830.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Even if Marcus Smart and the Lakers limit Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, they\u2019ll have to maintain intensity throughout Game 3 to pull back a game.<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0Download the NBA App<\/a><\/p>\n The Los Angeles Lakers made incremental improvements from Game 1<\/a> to Game 2<\/a> against Oklahoma City.<\/p>\n They shot better from the field, and Austin Reaves produced the necessary scoring with a game-high 31 points.<\/p>\n But it wasn\u2019t enough to alter the outcome as the Thunder defeated the Lakers 125-107 in Game 2 on Thursday. It was Oklahoma City\u2019s second consecutive 18-point victory over Los Angeles.<\/p>\n The Lakers need a more complete effort to avoid a 3-0 deficit in this Western Conference semifinal series<\/a>. That\u2019s a difficult task given the Thunder might be better and deeper than they were a year ago when they won the franchise\u2019s first NBA championship<\/a>.<\/p>\n Game 3 is Saturday in Los Angeles (8:30 ET, ABC<\/a>). Here are three things to watch for:<\/p>\n 1. Focus on the basics for Lakers<\/p>\n Opponents cannot give the Thunder extra chances, and the Lakers have done too much of that with turnovers and the Thunder\u2019s offensive rebounds.<\/p>\n In the series, Oklahoma City has outscored Los Angeles 38-17 in second-chance points and 46-32 in points off turnovers.<\/p>\n During the regular season, the Thunder ranked No. 2 in opponents\u2019 turnovers per game<\/a> and No. 1 in points off turnovers<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe probably need to go back to the two keys we had against Houston (in the first round) which is take care of the ball and box out,\u201d said Lakers coach JJ Redick.<\/p>\n 2. Thunder thrive in non-SGA minutes<\/p>\n The Lakers had a 66-61 lead when Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went to the bench with his fourth foul at 10:34 of the third quarter.<\/p>\n When Gilgeous-Alexander re-entered the game at the start of the fourth quarter, the Thunder led 93-80 \u2013 it was a 32-14 Thunder run with Gilgeous-Alexander on the bench.<\/p>\n In the 33 minutes Gilgeous-Alexander has been on the bench in this series, the Thunder have outscored the Lakers 87-65. It\u2019s a small sample size, but the Thunder have scored 133.8 points per 100 possessions with Gilgeous-Alexander off the court.<\/p>\n Locked in as a unit \ud83d\udd12 pic.twitter.com\/erWRvt2eh2<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) May 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n It illustrates the Thunder\u2019s talent and depth \u2013 their bench has outscored the Lakers\u2019 reserves 82-35 through two games.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was amazing,\u201d Gilgeous-Alexander said. \u201cThey strung together stops \u2026 I have full confidence in those guys. They know how to win basketball games. They\u2019ve proven that. No matter who\u2019s on the floor, they know how to get the job done.\u201d<\/p>\n The Lakers are shorthanded with Luka Don\u010di\u0107 (strained left hamstring) sidelined for what appears will be the entire series, and Jarred Vanderbilt (dislocated right finger) missed Game 2. But the Thunder are also without 2024-25 All-Star Jalen Williams (left hamstring strain).<\/p>\n 3. A complete game from the Lakers<\/p>\n The Lakers have played well at times \u2013 the first half of Game 2 and stretches of the second and third quarters in Game 1 \u2013 and they have had solid contributions from LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton and Austin Reaves. The Lakers can use more efficient 3-point shooting from Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart and stronger performances from the rest of the rotation.<\/p>\n Oklahoma City\u2019s top-ranked defense<\/a> and No. 7 offense<\/a> make it difficult on the Lakers. The Thunder are a matchup problem for every team, and the margin for error for the Lakers is small. Can they pull it off?<\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n Jeff Zillgitt has covered the NBA since 2008. You can email him at\u00a0jzillgitt@nba.com<\/a>, find\u00a0his archive here<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0follow him on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n