The Lakers have limited the reigning league MVP to 40 points through the first two games of their second-round playoff series, but they still lost each game by 18 points.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drives to the basket as Lakers guard Austin Reaves defends Injured Lakers star Luka Doncic watches from the bench during the second half of Game 1 of their second-round playoff series on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Oklahoma City.
OKLAHOMA CITY — So that was the Lakers when they’ve held Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to two of his least-threatening outings of not just the playoffs, but the whole of the season. Eighteen points in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series was the Oklahoma City Thunder star’s lowest-scoring output of the entire season.
Twenty-two points in Game 2,into relative submission considering his talents and had an opportunity to grab a Game 2 victory when Gilgeous-Alexander picked up his fourth foul early in the third quarter. Those ensuing minutes could have been the fuel the Lakers needed to swipe a win in a best-of-seven series in which they’re comfortably the largest underdog of any LeBron James-led team over his 23-season career.
The Lakers could have knotted the series at one with an opportunity to win a game, or two, back on their home court in the days ahead. But it wasn’t. Instead, the hosts didn’t blink twice without Gilgeous-Alexander on the floor. The Lakers’ sixth consecutive game against the Thunder this season, by final score alone, wasn’t close again.
“Them being plus-nine in the non-SGA minutes and then in the second half, we just got blitzed,” Lakers guard Reaves said Thursday night after Game 2. “32-14 , seven turnovers. ” The Lakers need answers fast, whether or not they keep holding Gilgeous-Alexander well below his season scoring average , when Game 3 tips off Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena.
“We need to up our physicality,” veteran swingman Luke Kennard said. “Obviously, we’ve been putting two guys on Shai a lot. And kind of let some of those guys get open looks. But when Shai’s off the floor, we really got to sit down and guard, and try to take some of those guys out.
Our physicality has to go up another level, and we know that. And it’s something we’ll definitely talk about and, hopefully, figure out. ” Forward Rui Hachimura added that he feels like the Lakers focus on Gilgeous-Alexander “a lot,” and that he and his teammates need to spread the defensive attention to some of the other Oklahoma City players. Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell contributed 18 points in Game 1 and 20 in Game 2.
Coming off the bench, guard Jared McCain – whom the Thunder acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers at the trade deadline – has tallied double-digit points in both games. In lieu of Gilgeous-Alexander’s productive-but-not-dominant performances, the Thunder’s deep roster has stepped up to fill the void.
“We focus on Shai a lot,” Hachimura said. “But we have to give the others out there more respect. They are great players. They were making a lot of plays while Shai wasn’t in there.
He only played 27 minutes . Other guys made it . I think we got to talk more about those guys. ”, Redick was asked about what Oklahoma City brings when Gilgeous-Alexander – who sat out that game while nursing an injury – is not on the court.
Disruption: playing nearly the entire third quarter without their best player and still turning a five-point deficit into a 13-point lead, became their bread and butter in Game 2. Physical: making the Lakers uncomfortable, mucking up their offensive flow for the final 10 minutes of the third, when the visitors had a prime opportunity to grow their lead.
But the Lakers need to find a recipe for playoff success with or without the 27-year-old star at the heart of the equation. With Jarred Vanderbilt out, Lakers plan to extend rotation for Game 2Leading candidates for California governor face off in another high-stakes debateJury rules in LA’s favor in accidental police shooting of teen at Burlington store in North HollywoodFirst eyed 6 decades ago, history-making D-Line subway opens first leg FridayMan accused of fatal blow to Jewish man during Thousand Oaks demonstrations pleads guilty
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