The Lakers lost 131-108 to the Thunder in Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, highlighting their struggles. The Thunder demonstrated superior resilience and performance throughout the game.
May 9, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers starters look on from the bench in the final minutes of game three of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
After the Lakersâ 131-108 Game 3 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, their demise is inevitable.
The Thunder outclass the Lakers in every area. Last night made that clear, if it wasnât already.
The difference between these teams is their resilience.
Even before the series started, almost every metric pointed to the Thunder clearly being the better team. But the playoffs are a chance for teams to ignore the numbers and fight for their season.Â
Pressure and adversity make or break teams at this stage of the year, and the Lakers simply cannot handle the pressure cooker that is this Thunder team.Â
LeBron James and Austin Reaves were awful last night. They combined for 36 points on 12-of-32 shooting and turned the ball over eight times. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also struggled. He scored 23 points on 7-of-20 shooting.Â
The Lakers lost to the Thunder with a score of 131-108 in Game 3.
The Thunder outclassed the Lakers by showcasing better resilience and overall performance in every area of the game.
The loss in Game 3 suggests that the Lakers' chances of advancing in the playoffs are slim, as their performance indicates significant struggles.
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So what does a game come down to when the stars on both teams have off nights? Fight.
The Lakers didnât fight hard enough.
Rui Hachimura and Luke Kennard caught fire in the first half. They combined to make seven of eight 3-point attempts and carried the Lakers to a two-point halftime lead. Their shooting cooled in the third quarter, and the Thunder punched back.
Lu Dort opened the quarter with a go-ahead three-pointer and sparked a 21-6 extended run. The Lakers looked disinterested from that point on.
In the second half, they grabbed just nine defensive rebounds to the Thunderâs 16 and turned the ball over eight times to the Thunderâs three.
But at least the players fought longer than the fans did.
Outside of the roar that followed the Hachimura and Kennard-fueled second-quarter run, the crowd was unresponsive from tipoff. So much so that announcer Doris Burke questioned it during the first quarter.
âIs this building remarkably quiet for a playoff game?â she asked during the broadcast.
There was not a quiet moment during the first two games of the series in Oklahoma City. The crowd at the Paycom Center refuses to let their team go into battle alone. They give the Thunder energy. And when the L.A. crowds fail to do the same, the Thunder carry that confidence on the road.
Add that to the Lakersâ list of disadvantages.
The Lakersâ fan base either lacks culture or has accepted that this series is already over.
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