Can Lakers muffle Thunder for second time in three days?

The Los Angeles Lakers confirmed simply how harmful their Huge Three could be in Sunday’s street win over the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, the staff with the NBA’s finest report.

The Lakers (48-30) can reinforce that impression Tuesday once they run it again in opposition to the host Thunder.

“All three of these guys that we’ve got are elite offensive gamers,” Lakers coach JJ Redick stated of Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves. “You possibly can attempt your finest night-to-night to determine the place the weak factors are and the place you possibly can create a bonus.”

In Sunday’s 126-99 win, Doncic and Reaves mixed for 9 of Los Angeles’ season-high 22 3-pointers.

“With the including of Luka and the subtract of (Anthony Davis), their assault turns into extra perimeter and fewer inside,” Oklahoma Metropolis guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stated.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated there is a balancing act in not placing an excessive amount of inventory into the earlier matchup whereas additionally making an attempt to study one thing from it.

Oklahoma Metropolis (64-14) clinched the highest seed within the Western Convention practically three weeks in the past and, although it gained its subsequent seven video games after clinching to increase its successful streak to 11, the Thunder now have dropped back-to-back video games for the second time this season.

“In the event you go away somebody alone within the fitness center, they normally do not shoot that nicely from 3,” Daigneault stated. “So there is a shot-making component. However I additionally suppose there is a focus component that we had been missing within the sport.”

A number of Thunder gamers have stated lately they had been preventing in opposition to human nature to forestall a lull heading into the postseason.

“To not make it an excuse, however whether or not we win or lose, our standing will not change, so naturally, it’ll slip in,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated. “The problem for each staff is completely different, and the problem is for us to be sure that we keep targeted and proceed to play with that sense of urgency.”

Jalen Williams stated the Thunder simply must hold doing what they’ve achieved all season and never overreact to the final two video games.

“I do not suppose it is misplaced,” Williams stated. “I do not learn about ‘discover it once more.’ It isn’t misplaced. Suppose it is simply extra making an attempt to determine what we wish to do and never panic.”

With yet one more win, the Thunder would set the single-season franchise report for victories — surpassing the 1995-96 staff that went 64-18 when the franchise was in Seattle.

Whereas the Thunder can sit up for the postseason, Los Angeles nonetheless has loads to play for within the common season.

The Lakers come into the sport in third place within the Western Convention, 3 1/2 video games behind Houston for second and 1 1/2 video games forward of Denver for third with 4 video games remaining. They’ll end as excessive as second and as little as eighth.

Doncic stated the playoff-like surroundings in Oklahoma Metropolis mixed with the aggressive race within the Western Convention helped sharpen his focus.

“It’s extremely powerful to play right here,” Doncic stated. “It’s extremely powerful to win, however wanting on the standings at the moment, it is loopy within the West. It brings the aggressive spirit out of me.”

Tuesday’s sport is the primary of a back-to-back for the Lakers, who’ll play Wednesday at Dallas in Doncic’s first sport there since being traded to the Lakers for Davis on Feb. 2.

–Area Degree Media