Los Angeles Lakers faced a major litmus test Sunday night against the NBA top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder—and passed with flying colors. In a stunning performance, the Lakers dismantled OKC 126–99, led by a dominant showing from Luka Doncic. Lebron James spoke about habits after blowout win.
After the game, Lakers star LeBron James spoke to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin via X (formerly Twitter), offering a measured assessment of the team’s progress and acknowledging that more work lies ahead.
“They know who they are… We’re still trying to figure it out,” James said. “We understand that coming down the stretch we have to play some really good basketball, but we’re still working our habits.”
James also mentioned his NBA postgame plans with a nod to his podcast co-host. “We got that dub out the way, now I’m going to go shoot Mind the Game with Steve Nash,” he said. “So let’s get there when we get there.”
Doncic delivers against the No. 1 seed
Doncic stole the show with a standout performance, pouring in 30 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals. His efficient scoring and command of the game helped fuel the Lakers’ wire-to-wire win over a Thunder team many consider the best in the league.
Balanced Lakers attack and lockdown defense
While Doncic led the way, he received key contributions from his teammates. LeBron chipped in with 19 points, 3 rebounds, and 7 assists in a steady outing. Austin Reaves emerged as the secondary scoring option with 20 points, while role players Dorian Finney-Smith (14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists) and Gabe Vincent (12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists) added crucial production off the bench.
Perhaps most impressive was the Lakers’ defensive effort—particularly on Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. In a stunning stat, SGA failed to attempt a single free throw for the first time since December 2021, snapping a streak of 248 consecutive games with at least one attempt. It marked the second-longest such streak in franchise history since the team relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008.