OKLAHOMA CITY — The Lakers, one again, were so shut.
But they stored getting in their own means in their 125-107 Game 2 loss to the Thunder at Paycom Center.
The Lakers had too many self-inflicted wounds, like their 21 turnovers for 26 OKC factors.
Or the 17 second-chance factors they allowed the Thunder to rating, losing the robust moments of halfcourt protection they had.
“We played well in spurts,” LeBron James said. “We had some really good minutes, obviously through three [quarters]. They were able to take a five-point lead in the third quarter and they made a run. Obviously, they kept scoring and they’re really good at exploiting matchups and things of that nature. But we had a good game plan. We tried to execute it as close to 48 minutes as possible, but it just didn’t get done.”
The Lakers had too many self-inflicted wounds, like their 21 turnovers for 26 OKC factors. AP
Or the 17 second-chance factors they allowed the Thunder to rating, losing the robust moments of halfcourt protection they had. NBAE via Getty Images
Even with Austin Reaves bouncing back from a purtid Game 1 efficiency with a playoff career-high 31 factors to go with 6 assists, Game 2 was outlined by the Lakers’ errors.
And the Thunder capitalized off them.
“They do a good job of capitalizing off turnovers,” Luke Kennard said. “Obviously, that’s going to be a big thing for us. We knew that going into it, their physicality. We gotta stay poised, under control when they go on those runs. I think we’ve done a pretty good job overall, but it’s gonna take a full, full 48 minutes.”
James had 23 factors and 6 assists.
Rui Hachimura (16 factors) and Kennard (10 factors) mixed for 26 factors, but the Lakers wasted a robust taking pictures night time (50% from the discipline, 37.9% on 3s).
Chet Holmgren led the Thunder with 22 factors, 9 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists and 2 blocked pictures.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 22 factors. Ajay Mitchell recorded 20 factors and 6 assists, while Jared McCain had 18 factors off the bench.
LeBron James had 23 factors and 6 assists. AP
What it means
The Lakers are now trailing 2-0 in the best-of-seven second spherical sequence.
Under the 2-2-1-1-1 home/away sample, the team with homecourt benefit has a 221-19 all-time report in playoff sequence after taking a 2-0 lead since the NBA moved to a 16-team playoff in 1984.
Turning level
When Gilgeous-Alexander picked up his fourth private and a Flagrant Foul penalty one foul at the 10:34 mark of the third quarter.
Reaves made a pair of flagrant free throws, and a technical free throw after Alex Caruso was assessed a technical from the bench, to put the Lakers up 66-61 as Gilgeous-Alexander subbed out and went to the bench for the the rest of the quarter.
Usually, this would be a optimistic second for an opponent when the reigning MVP has to watch practically an complete quarter from the bench.
That wasn’t the case for the Lakers, who were outscored 32-14 in the closing 10 ½ minutes of the third.
Jared McCain (8 factors), Holmgren (8) and Mitchell (7) mixed for 23 factors in the third, with the trio outscoring the Lakers, who had 22 factors in the third.
“I talked about it a little bit [on Wednesday], them being plus-nine in the non-SGA minutes and then in the second half, we just got blitzed, 32-14, seven turnovers,” coach JJ Redick said. “They shot 14 free throws during that stretch. So we got to look at lineups, look at everything, try to figure out how we can be better in those minutes.”
That wasn’t the case for the Lakers, who were outscored 32-14 in the closing 10 ½ minutes of the third. NBAE via Getty Images
MVP: Ajay Mitchell
The second-year guard continues his breakout season with another robust playoff efficiency.
He was the greatest purpose why the Thunder won the non-Gilgeous-Alexander minutes in the second, scoring 11 factors of his scoring whole in the quarter.
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Stat of the sport: 12
That’s how many factors the Thunder outscored the Lakers by when Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t on the flooring before Redick subbed out his predominant rotation gamers with 2:14 left, with his team down 120-103.
The Lakers also struggled in the non-Gilgeous-Alexander minutes in Game 1, being outscored on Tuesday when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the bench.
Up next
Game 3 of Lakers-Thunder will tip off at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena.
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