Magic Johnson Praises Lakers’ Defense But Observes Notable Struggles 

The scoreboard backed that up as well. To shed some light, it’s enough to reflect on the team’s defensive domination of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA, who holds the record for most consecutive games with 20 points, finished with 18 points and committed seven turnovers. 

The LA side disrupted the OKC rhythm and forced mistakes. It’s something that they failed to do in the regular season, as the Thunder swept it 4-0 with a 29.3 point margin. Now, even without Luka Doncic, the team managed an 18-point margin.

Coach JJ Redick addressed the team’s effort, also calling for improvement in the next game.

Amid Magic Johnson’s Praise, the Lakers Need to Fix Their Offense

The offense remains the major roadblock. Last night, the team shot 41.7% from the field and 33.3% from three, making just 10 of 30 attempts. Once again, turnovers piled up, conceding 20 points.

LeBron James led from the front with 27 points and six assists, but his supporting cast, Austin Reaves, didn’t deliver, dropping just 8 points with a poor 3-16 FG.

Addressing Reaves’ poor night, JJ Redick said, “He didn’t play well, but he’s going to bounce back.” So, the plan is clear. The team needs to protect the ball and execute a better offense. Redick further added, “Basketball’s a game full of mistakes. There are just too many tonight. We’ve got to clean that up… We just got to do a better job with execution.”

At the same time, there’s some optimism surrounding Luka Doncic’s recovery. Shams Charania reported that Doncic is on a ‘slow path’ to recovery, with no confirmed return date announced.

Next up, the Thunder host Game 2 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City this Thursday night.