Lakers encouraged by the ability to face the best competition in the League – Orange County Register

Oklahoma City – A trend at the start of the season for Lakers was their difficulties against the best teams in the League.

But they completely overturned the scenario in this area, the victory of Sunday afternoon 126-99 against Oklahoma City Thunder, leader of the League, at the Paycc Center being the last example.

The Lakers took control very early behind the offensive performance of Luka Doncic (30 points, seven rebounds, six assists, five 3 points – 14 points; three 3s in the first quarter), giving the Lakers a two -digit lead before the second.

And as the game progressed, the defense of the Lakers has become more steep.

They held the Thunder at 24 points or less in the last three quarters, helping them maintain at least one 20 -point lead for almost the last 30 minutes of the match.

“Obviously, we were quite good against some of the best teams this year, and we were not so good against some of the teams below 0,500,” said LeBron James. “But it’s a great team to test and see where you are, but ultimately, this is our habits.”

The Lakers dominated the Thunder in a way that they do not have all season, Sunday being the biggest margin of defeat of Oklahoma City since he fell against the Celtics in Boston of 35 points last season on April 3, 2024, a Game Guardian Thunder All-Nba and the candidate MVP Shai Gilgeous-Aalexander did not play.

Sunday was the worst loss of home of the Thunder since he fell at the Denver Nuggets, 128-95, on October 29, 2023.

The 20-16 Lakers record against 0,500 and more teams is tied with the Houston Rockets for the second best note in the conference behind the Thunder (28-10).

During last week, the Lakers, which are n ° 3 in the west ranking with a file of 48-30, beat the two teams above them during the conference-Sunday victory against the Thunder and the home victory of March 31 against the Rockets.

Their 34-14 against the Western Conference teams is a match behind the Thunder for the best record in conference.

Lakers have a 20-10 sheet against the other nine teams that should make the eliminatory / game tournament.

They will compete again against the Thunder on Tuesday at the Paycc Center and welcome the Rockets on Friday for their last home game for their final matches against the Top two teams from the West.

The Lakers will also face the Mavericks on Wednesday, the first Dallas game in Dallas after being shocking with the Lakers in early February, against another confrontation against a west team that was to participate in an after-season game.

“We have to continue to push our habits,” said James. “Thunder) knows who they are, they know what they are going to be in the playoffs. We always try to understand it with our alignments, with us all acclimatized to what Luka wants to do, (Austin Reaves) and myself and to make sure that we will train on everyone in the team and we are sure to keep each other. We understand that we are playing, we have to play very good basketballing, but we are still working.

Podcast recording

When he was asked for his plans for consecutive matches on the road against the Thunder and the Mavericks on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, James revealed that he had other plans which he had to take care of.

“What can I get there today? I don’t even know,” he replied. “I don’t even know, guy. I am about to get the game on with Steve Nash. This is what is most important at the moment. We had this dubbing, now I’m going to shoot the game with Steve Nash. So let’s go when we get there. “

The second season of “Mind The Game”, which James now co-animated with the NBA legend after having already co-hosted with the Lakers coach, JJ Redick, before taking the post of coach, made his debut last week.

Originally published: April 6, 2025 at 5:17 p.m.