The Los Angeles Lakers confirmed simply how harmful their Massive Three will 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 have now are elite offensive gamers,” Lakers coach JJ Redick mentioned of Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves. “You may strive your finest night-to-night to determine the place the weak factors are and the place you’ll be able to 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 mentioned.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault mentioned 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 almost three weeks in the past and, although it gained its subsequent seven video games after clinching to increase its profitable 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 often do not shoot that effectively from 3,” Daigneault mentioned. “So there is a shot-making component. However I additionally suppose there is a focus component that we had been missing within the recreation.”
A number of Thunder gamers have mentioned 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 should slip in,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “The problem for each staff is completely different, and the problem is for us to guarantee that we keep centered and proceed to play with that sense of urgency.”
Jalen Williams mentioned the Thunder simply have to maintain doing what they’ve accomplished all season and never overreact to the final two video games.
“I do not suppose it is misplaced,” Williams mentioned. “I do not learn about ‘discover it once more.’ It is not misplaced. Assume it is simply extra making an attempt to determine what we wish to do and never panic.”
With yet another 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 stay 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 will end as excessive as second and as little as eighth.
Doncic mentioned the playoff-like atmosphere in Oklahoma Metropolis mixed with the aggressive race within the Western Convention helped sharpen his focus.
“It’s extremely robust to play right here,” Doncic mentioned. “It’s extremely robust to win, however trying on the standings at this time, it is loopy within the West. It brings the aggressive spirit out of me.”
Tuesday’s recreation is the primary of a back-to-back for the Lakers, who’ll play Wednesday at Dallas in Doncic’s first recreation there since being traded to the Lakers for Davis on Feb. 2.
–Area Stage Media
