As the NBA regular season enters its final stretch, the Los Angeles Lakers face a significant challenge with a pair of road games against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday and Tuesday. The Lakers currently hold the third seed in the Western Conference with a 47-30 record, a considerable 17 games behind the conference-leading Thunder, who have already secured the top playoff seed with an impressive 64-13 mark.
Beyond the Thunder’s dominant position, the Western Conference standings remain incredibly tight. With just five games remaining, the Lakers could realistically finish anywhere from second to eighth, making these upcoming contests against Oklahoma City critically important for Coach JJ Redick’s squad.
Back-to-Back Games: Los Angeles Lakers (47-30) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (64-13)
While the Lakers possess the tiebreaker advantage over all teams trailing them, they cannot afford to rely on favorable outcomes elsewhere in the league and must focus on securing their own victories, beginning with Sunday’s matchup. This will undoubtedly be a difficult task against a historically strong Thunder team spearheaded by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a leading candidate for league MVP.
The Thunder present a multifaceted challenge for the Lakers. Beyond Gilgeous-Alexander’s stellar play, they boast a collection of formidable wing defenders, including Lu Dort, Jalen Williams, Alex Caruso, and Aaron Wiggins. Inside, they possess the size and rebounding prowess of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, an area where they have sometimes struggled.
Subscribe to LAFB Network’s YouTube Channel
Given these factors, LA will need to perform at their absolute best to have a chance of defeating the Thunder on their home court. Encouragingly for Los Angeles, Luka Doncic broke out of a recent slump with a 35-point performance against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.
LeBron James has also regained his rhythm, and Austin Reaves is currently playing his most consistent basketball of the season. This trio combined for 92 points against the Pelicans, and a similar level of production may be necessary against Oklahoma City.
Contributions from role players would also be invaluable, particularly if the Thunder focus their defensive efforts on the primary scorers, potentially leaving open looks for players like Dorian Finney-Smith, Rui Hachimura, and Gabe Vincent. Regardless of the results, these next two games against a top-tier opponent will serve as a valuable litmus test for the Lakers as they prepare for the upcoming playoffs.