{"id":631539,"date":"2026-05-08T20:29:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T20:29:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/631539\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T20:29:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T20:29:08","slug":"jj-redick-pointed-to-the-non-shai-gilgeous-alexander-minutes-as-the-turning-point-in-game-2-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/631539\/","title":{"rendered":"JJ Redick pointed to the non-Shai Gilgeous-Alexander minutes as the turning point in Game 2 loss"},"content":{"rendered":"

When a team loses in blowout fashion like the Lakers did in Game 2 against the Thunder<\/a>, there isn\u2019t just one reason.<\/p>\n

There are plenty of things that didn\u2019t go LA\u2019s way in this contest. The Lakers had far too many turnovers with 21, multiple bench players didn\u2019t give the team much, and Deandre Ayton<\/a> struggled, scoring just three points in 27 minutes of play.<\/p>\n

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However, after the loss, Lakers head coach JJ Redick<\/a> focused on a stretch in the third quarter when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sat and the Thunder went on a game-defining run.<\/p>\n

\u201cI talked about it a little bit yesterday, them being +9 in the non-Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander) minutes and then in the second half, we just got blitzed. 32-14 [run], seven turnovers, they shot 14 free throws during that stretch. We\u2019ll look at lineups, we\u2019ll look at everything. Try to figure out how to be better in those minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n

After SGA\u2019s reckless foul on Austin Reaves<\/a> was deemed a flagrant, he was at foul No. 4 and was forced to sit. Reaves took three free throws and knocked them all down to give LA a five-point lead, their largest advantage of the night.<\/p>\n

Instead of the Lakers taking advantage of OKC playing without their best player, it was the Thunder who went on a run.<\/p>\n

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Lugentz Dort<\/a> knocked down a three, Chet Holmgren<\/a> had an emphatic dunk, and when Jared McCain<\/a> came into the game, he was an injection of offense, scoring eight points in five minutes.<\/p>\n

A five-point Lakers lead turned into a 13-point deficit. In the fourth, SGA checked back in and had a double-digit advantage in hand. And when you put MVP in that kind of position in his house, he\u2019s going to win.<\/p>\n

As Redick mentioned, they will have to look at these non-SGA minutes and figure out how to win them. The Lakers have done a great job of limiting Shai, but role players like McCain are looking like stars against LA.<\/p>\n

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Clearly, they haven\u2019t found a balance between slowing down OKC\u2019s superstar while not letting other players take over the game.<\/p>\n

Still, there\u2019s time. This series is 2-0, but it\u2019s first to four. With the Lakers coming back home to LA, Redick has to tinker with his lineups so he can concoct a winning formula. so that the next time his team is in an advantageous situation, they can capitalize on it.<\/p>\n

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at\u00a0@ECreates88<\/a>\u00a0or on Bluesky at\u00a0@ecreates88.bsky.social<\/a>.<\/p>\n