Lakers Vs. Thunder Game 2 Preview: Can La Bounce Back?

The series between the Lakers and Thunder remains in Oklahoma City, with Game 2 on Thursday.

The purple and gold aim to even the series at 1-1.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

When: 6:30 p.m. PT, May 7

Where: Paycom Center

Watch: Prime Video

The first playoff game between the Lakers and Thunder went about as expected: The better team won because they simply have more firepower and are healthier.

But at the very least, the Lakers showed they can keep up with the Thunder as long as everything goes right for them.

Besides Jarred Vanderbilt’s gruesome finger injury and Austin Reaves having one of — if not — the worst game of his life, LA came in with a commendable game plan that led to reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander having a season-low in points with 18 and a season-high in turnovers with seven.

Then, SGA and the Thunder adjusted. He found ways to impact the game, and Chet Holmgren and the rest of the team stepped up to help them win Game 1.

Now, JJ Redick and the Lakers are sent back to the drawing board, where they will have to come up with a new game plan and make adjustments in order to attempt to steal a game on the road once again.

This is a must-win for the Lakers if they want any sort of chance in this series.

A better performance from Austin Reaves

It’s tough to look past Reaves’ abysmal 3-16 shooting from the field that yielded only eight points. After all, he’s supposed to be the second-best player on the Lakers. Yes, he’s coming off an oblique injury and a month off basketball, but whether fair or unfair, he will be judged like he’s 100% healthy.

Nobody likes moral victories, but it’s also fair to say that if Reaves had just had an average game, Game 1 would’ve been winnable, or at the very least, closer than an 18-point blowout. He’s dealing with the Thunder’s fierce perimeter defense, and he’s going to have to figure out how to handle it. The good news is that Reaves has nowhere to go but up, and we know he’s going to be determined to bounce back. Hopefully, he does so in Game 2.

Control Holmgren and the paint more

Aside from Holmgren dominating the paint, the Thunder as a team also had more rebounds than the Lakers, 44-41. OKC capitalized with 21 second-chance points. That’s unacceptable for an already shorthanded Lakers team that has to do everything they can to win the 50-50 loose balls as well as the little difference makers in a contest.

OKC also had 48 points in the paint and shot 43.4% from the 3-point line, so they pretty much dominated LA in every aspect of the game. This obviously can’t happen again if Los Angeles wants a chance to win Game 2.

More offensive production

Over the last four games, the Lakers have averaged just under 100 points per game. They’re extremely starved on offense because they badly need more outside of LeBron James.

Rui Hachimura has been the most consistent role player thus far in the playoffs followed by Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton. But them scoring below 20 points isn’t going to help James and they need more from their other teammates as well.

Besides Reaves, the Lakers desperately need Luke Kennard’s scoring and hopefully something from Jake LaRavia as well. They’re not beating this Thunder team if they don’t perform well from beyond the arc as well as control the points inside the paint. Perhaps the biggest question in Game 2 for the Lakers is how they’re going to keep up with the Thunder’s offense.

Let’s see whether or not they can solve this Thunder team on Thursday.

Notes and Updates

• For the Lakers’ injury report, there have unfortunately been new additions. Luke Kennard (neck soreness) is noted as questionable, while Jarred Vanderbilt (right finger dislocation) is now doubtful.
• Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain) is out.
• As for the Thunder, Jalen Williams (left hamstring strain) and Thomas Sorber (ACL surgery recovery) will not suit up.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.