The Oklahoma City Thunder controlled Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals on Thursday night at Paycom Center, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 125-107 to take a 2-0 series lead. The defending champions outscored Los Angeles 32-15 in a decisive third-quarter stretch that Lakers head coach JJ Redick identified as the turning point.
“We just got blitzed, 32 to 14, seven turnovers,” Redick said when asked what stood out most from the loss. “They shot 14 free throws around that stretch.”
Redick pointed directly to the Lakers’ inability to stabilize possessions and defend without fouling during Oklahoma City’s surge. He noted that the staff will reassess rotations and structure heading into Game 3.
“We’ll look at lineups, we’ll look at everything, try to figure out how we can be better in those minutes,” he said.
The Lakers had already highlighted ball security and rebounding entering the series, but Redick said those issues remain unchanged after two games. Oklahoma City has consistently punished second-chance opportunities and live-ball mistakes.
“You can start seeing some trends here,” Redick said. “We probably need to go back to the two keys we had against Houston, which is take care of the ball and box out.”
The Thunder’s efficiency around the rim and on extra possessions continued to swing momentum, with Redick stressing how quickly those breakdowns turn into points.
“It’s not on high volume, but they’ve killed us in both games,” he said. “Every time they’ve gotten an offensive rebound, they’ve scored.”
A major talking point in the game was officiating and physicality, especially after multiple extended conversations between players and referees, including a first-half technical foul assessed to Redick.
He addressed the frustration without framing it as the sole reason for the loss, but he was direct about what he believes is happening on contact plays.
“I sarcastically said the other day they were the most disruptive team without fouling,” Redick said. “They have a few guys that foul on every possession.”
Redick specifically pointed to repeated contact in the paint and on entry passes, describing stretches where he felt the Lakers were consistently hit without whistles.
“Our guys got absolutely clobbered trying to make an entry pass,” he said. “They’re hard enough to play. You’ve got to be able to just call it if they foul.”
He also addressed LeBron James’ limited free-throw volume across the first two games, noting the physical treatment the veteran forward has absorbed.
“LeBron has the worst whistle of any star player I’ve ever seen,” Redick said. “He gets clobbered a bunch, and it rarely gets called.”
Despite the frustration, Redick emphasized that composure remained intact on the Lakers’ side, even as emotions rose during key sequences.
“Our guys were so good tonight, just staying together, poised,” he said. “The emotion’s part of basketball.”
Redick also credited Oklahoma City’s discipline in avoiding constant complaints, suggesting it may influence how games are officiated over time.
“They don’t complain to the officials,” he said. “Maybe they’re the beneficiaries of that.”
With the series shifting to Los Angeles for Game 3, Redick made clear the Lakers’ focus will remain on correcting execution rather than external factors.
“We didn’t lose because of the refs,” he said. “You lose because the other team outplays you. Oklahoma City outplayed us.”
The Lakers will look to respond on Saturday as they try to avoid falling into a 3-0 deficit against a Thunder team that continues to control momentum on both ends of the floor.
