Lakers at Thunder Playoff Game 2 Game Day 2026-05-07

Los Angeles Lakers

53-29 • 25-16 road

at

Oklahoma City Thunder

64-18 • 34-7 home

· 6:30 PM PT · TV: Prime Video

Spread: OKC -15.5 ·O/U: 211.5

Lakers

116.3 PPG

Thunder

119.0 PPG

Team Leaders

Lakers

Austin Reaves 23.3 PPG

Deandre Ayton 8.0 RPG

LeBron James 7.2 APG

Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 31.1 PPG

Chet Holmgren 8.9 RPG

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 6.6 APG

Key Matchup

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 6.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG) vs LeBron James (20.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 7.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.6 BPG)

Injury Report

Lakers

Out: Jarred Vanderbilt

Out: Luka Doncic

Thunder

Out: Jalen Williams

Out: Thomas Sorber

Season Series: OKC wins 4-0

West Semifinals - Game 2. Series: OKC leads series 1-0. The Lakers (25-16 on the road) visit the Thunder, who are 34-7 at home. OKC is favored by 15.5 points.

After falling 90-108 to the Thunder, what changes are needed to take game 2? How do you see game 2 playing out? Who should get more playing time?

It is too bad that the Lakers will not have Luka back yet. But it sure would help LeBron from caring the whole load of offense. First game was terrible that he did not get much help from Kennard, LaRavia, Ayton, Rui and Reaves really tried hard, but he was way off on his shooting and he is not built muscular to defend bigger OKC players. He took some pretty hard hits, but that was not good either after just coming back from a rib injury. So game two tonight I do not give the Lakers much of a chance of taking a game in Oklahoma. Only way the Lakers could win one is if everybody plays the perfect game. Better shooting is required to beat a team like this. No turn overs. Make your free throws, they could make the difference in the end. And most important play team ball.

It is too bad that the Lakers will not have Luka back yet.

Remember that the Lakers lost by 30ish to OKC, twice, near the end of the season, with Luka. I speculate that the extra effort required, and quite likely his lack of preparation (stretching), is what led to the Hammy. If history is any evidence at this time, I'm not convinced that it would make any difference at all if Luka was in the lineup against them or not.

Hartenstein and Holmgren run the floor together. Why doesn't JJ take note that he can do the same with Ayton and Hayes given that the Lakers cannot counter their bigs playing one or the other at the same time?

What were the Lakers doing in the first quarter of game one, for the first 75% of the quarter, to keep pace with OKC?

I'd say that it was defensive energy, the same that beat Houston.

SGA, averaging more than 30 in the playoffs, only had 18 points, therefore the scramble defense against him was successful. Holmgren took up the slack by playing free safety and grabbing all of the loose offensive opportunities scoring 24, and this was game 1 after the Lakers were very rested.

JJ needs to get at least Adou in the game as well Bronny and perhaps Smith moving forward, if only for a 3-4 minute bursts. It will destabilize OKC's response to the Lakers and perhaps make things a little more difficult on the OKC bigs. Adou is a beast. What a waste having him accumulate DNP's. Bronny's speed and defense and his inclination to push the ball could have the same effect contrary to Luke and Austin whose impactful defensive opposition is more intellectual than athletic.

Gotta rebound- you can't challenge and cause a miss and let them get a tip in. Easier said than done as they've got a big lineup going with Holmgren and Hartenstein out there together.

Tough when Holmgren is going to hit 3's. Lakers finally get on the board with Rui's FT-line jumper.

Might need to put Hayes in there together with Ayton. Just too much length for OKC.

Rui stays hot- drills the corner triple!

Biased pro-Thunder reffing in full force already. Lebron gets decked, no call, Reaves gets hit on that floater, should've been and and-1, and now and iffy call on Ayton who looks like he got held before throwing the elbow.

Good challenge by JJ as it was overturned as Ayton was grabbed first. Holmgren auditioning for Hollywood or something with that flop lol.

Isaiah Joe- let him shoot that midrange all day, just not from deep.

Kennard misses that open 3. He's been cold but it's just a matter of time before he starts hitting.

Reaves gets bumped no call, and now a bit out of control and the Lakers are down 26-16 after the OKC push.

Still skipping the series. I’ll watch a recording if they manage to win a game, which they won’t. Thunder in four. Team is unbeatable and they have the NBA backing them.

Rui boom from way downtown to end the Q! Lakers with a good burst, getting out in transition, and nice stops by Hayes. Trail 27-23.

Still skipping the series. I’ll watch a recording if they manage to win a game, which they won’t. Thunder in four. Team is unbeatable and they have the NBA backing them.

Gotta like the battle they're showing so far though, but yeah the reffing is pretty one-sided right now

JJ heard me.

Adou coming in shortly...

Wow a bogus call against Lebron as Caruso flopped

That's tough if AJ Mitchell is just gonna keep going into the lane for easy layups

Ayton just can't get a clean look inside against Holmgren. Kennard finally with the triple

Reaves starting to heat up- hesitation dribble for the and 1 scoop!

Lakers have done a good job on SGA- induces his 3rd as Reaves takes the charge. Now Smart puts back his own miss, and the Lakers now LEAD 46-45.

Defense keeping the Lakers in this.

When the Lakers break up their flow, they can be very effective interfering with OKC's comfort zone.

Kennard and now Rui b2b triples! Lakers up 52-49

I think SGA has three (3) fouls...

A pair of superb lob and jams- first LBJ to Hayes, now Lebron from Reaves!

Hayes with the floater! Lakers on the heels of a terrific second Q, lead the Thunder 58-57 at the half.

I think SGA has three (3) fouls...

It'd be nice to get #4 on him early in the third

Lakers up by one at the half. I wish JJ would put in another sharp shooter off the bench in order to spread the defense off the painted area. Ayton has no chance in hell against Holmgren and Hartenstein. Ayton has no lift on those legs. Lakers have been shooting better from the three. Rui and Kennard have been hot off the three. Need more from Kennard and Reaves.

Reaves on the ground in pain after SGA tugs at his elbow and bends it backwards OUCH. Hope Austin is okay. That's #4 on SGA!

Flagrant foul on SGA, and thankfully AR is okay. He drills the FTs and now Lakers are up 5.

Good timeout- don't want to be giving up layups now

Game slipping away here as more turnovers and now OKC hitting 3's. Not to mention too many second chances by the Thunder.

Gotta get 2 big guys in for rebounding

Just can't get stops right now- McCain has really hurt with a flurry of 3's SMH

Lakers down 93-80 after 3. Rui was hot but barely got the ball again after hitting that first 3 in the Q.

That is a big time 3 by Lebron over Hartenstein. 6 point game!

Scary collision there as Reaves fouls SGA and Lebron trips over him and hurts his hand. If AR didn't foul Lebron may have had the angle to block the layup

That's odd they're reviewing that as a flagrant as Reaves actually was trying to help SGA stay in balance

Smart has done a good job on D but has made some awful passes.

Ayton no need to push there to foul- was going to give a good challenge on the jumper. Laker momentum is being stalled with these turnovers and unnecessary fouls.

A TENSE jumpball and unfortunately Hayes gets outclassed by Holmgren. Deficit swells to 13. Now or never.

Lakers fade down the stretch and the white flag is waved. Good fight but the turnovers were the killers tonight.

Ayton is terrible. JJ is not the most cerebral coach. He just does not know what to do. He just plays the starting five until their legs wear out, or he gets them injured. He knows Ayton can not catch a ball, he will fumble it every time. He has Kleber and Timme two power forwards, but at least they can contribute to the team and help the three that are scoring like LeBron, Reaves and Rui. LaRavia is another who scored zero. Terrible player. And I am very disappointed with Hayes also. He is a dunker, but not with two giants OKC has, they will block his shot. So he just wonders around on the three point line, just giving screens. JJ needs to try something different. Give some minutes to Smith and Knecht. They might help put some points on the board. What he is doing is obviously not working.