The Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers met in a playoff-bound Western Conference clash Monday night at Crypto.com Arena, and the game did not disappoint. Entering the contest, the Thunder maintained their lead in the conference with a record of 40 wins and 13 losses, while the Lakers, who had won three straight, were in fifth place with a record of 32 wins and 19 losses. This matchup marked the second meeting between these teams this season. The Thunder dominated the first meeting at Paycom Center in November, winning 121-92.
Both teams were missing key players, making it a battle for depth and resilience. The Thunder were without players Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain), Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain), Nicola Topic (testicular surgery) and Thomas Sober (ACL tear). On the Lakers side, Luka Doncic remained sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Deandre Ayton (knee soreness) is a possibility and Adu Tierro (MCL sprain) is also out. Jaylen Williams returned to action after missing the past 10 games in Oklahoma City, providing a much-needed boost for the visiting team.
The starting five reflected not only injury issues, but also tactical adjustments by both coaches. Oklahoma City started Kayson Wallace, Lou Dort, Jaylen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. The Lakers faced Marcus Smart, Jake LaRabia, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Deandre Ayton. The game tipped off at 9 PM CT (10 PM ET) and was broadcast live on Peacock, drawing attention from fans and bettors alike, with the Thunder favored by 7.5 points and an over/under of 222.5.
From the opening whistle, the match was evenly matched. In the first quarter, both teams traded baskets, with the Thunder holding a narrow 31-30 lead. Isaiah Joe was active, scoring nine points, and Austin Reeves led the Lakers with nine points and three assists off the bench. For Oklahoma City, Isaiah Hartenstein had six points and three rebounds, and Kayson Wallace had six points and two assists. Late in the quarter, Joe hit back-to-back 3-pointers to tie the score at 24, but the Thunder took the lead.
The second quarter continued with similar intensity. Oklahoma City took advantage of the Lakers’ ball security issues and turned steals into fast-break opportunities. At halftime, the Thunder led 67-58, led by Isaiah Joe’s 16 points and one steal. Wallace continued to play well with 10 points and two steals, while Jaylen Williams gradually returned and added eight points and one assist. Austin Reeves was the mainstay of the Lakers’ offense, scoring 12 points and dishing out six assists before the break. The Thunder’s ability to create turnovers and take hits from the outside kept them in control throughout the second quarter.
In the third quarter, the Lakers made a comeback thanks to LeBron James’ traditional strongball and timely contributions from the supporting cast. The Thunder’s offense was sputtering at times, but they were able to hold on thanks to key scoring possessions from Jaylen Williams and a relentless effort from Chet Holmgren. Holmgren, who had 17 points and 14 rebounds in the recent game against Houston, was once again a force on the team, approaching a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds through the end of the third inning. Jaylin Williams recorded 13 points and 1 rebound, and Isaiah Joe continued to perform hotly, reaching 19 points. Alex Caruso made a crucial 3-pointer late in the quarter, giving Oklahoma City a 93-91 lead going into the final frame.
The match continued to be tense, with both teams trading blows and unable to break apart. Even without Doncic, the Lakers relied heavily on LeBron James, who stepped up with 20 points and 10 rebounds in the last game against the Warriors. Deandre Ayton anchored the paint while battling knee soreness, and Austin Reeves and recently acquired Luke Kennard provided the offensive spark. Kennard was looking to build on that momentum after posting 10 points, two rebounds and two assists against Golden State in Los Angeles’ second game.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s absence continued to be significant for the Thunder, especially in shot creation late in games. But Jaylen Williams’ return was important. As The Oklahoman’s Justin Martinez said before the game, “Even without making 3-pointers this season, the All-NBA forward has drawn attention to himself and others by getting to the rim at will.” Cason Wallace, who scored 23 points in the previous game, was active again, and rookie Jared McCain, recently acquired from the 76ers, provided energy off the bench. McCain made his Thunder debut against Houston and expressed excitement, scoring +12 plus-minus 5 points in 14 minutes. “I was just excited to be in the game…That crowd was crazy, so I’m very blessed and grateful to be able to be there. It’s an honor to be a part of them,” he told Thunder reporter Steve McGee.
Statistically, the matchup between both teams was good. The Thunder averaged 119.9 points per game, 4.1 more than the Lakers allowed, while the Lakers’ 116.1 points per game were 8.2 more than the Thunder typically surrendered. These offensive fireworks are reflected in the betting trends, with both teams favoring the over in most games, with OKC going over in 60% of their road contests and the Lakers going over in 63% of their home games. SportsLine’s prediction model, which simulated the matchup 10,000 times, predicted a high-scoring game with both teams scoring a combined 231 points and overhitting 57% of the time.
As the game entered its final stages, the Thunder looked to stop a Lakers team looking to extend their home winning streak and close the gap in the conference standings. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City looked to end a two-game slide and maintain its position as the top of the Western Conference. Both teams played with spirit and urgency despite being short on players, and fans witnessed a playoff-caliber battle that could have major implications as the All-Star break approaches.
As the game continued into the fourth quarter with a close score, all eyes were glued to the Crypto.com Arena and Peacock live stream. Will the Thunder’s depth and defense lead them to a comeback victory, or will LeBron and the Lakers be able to ride the momentum and win at home? Stay tuned. This isn’t over yet.