The Los Angeles Lakers lost Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder and criticized the officiating, which resulted in a season-high 26 personal fouls against them. Head coach JJ Redick expressed frustration over perceived bias in foul calls.
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The Los Angeles Lakers lost their Game 2 matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals on Thursday, and they were extremely vocal about their thoughts on the officiating of the game afterwards.
The referees charged the Lakers with 26 personal fouls in the game, setting a new season high for one of the least-fouling teams in NBA. Head coach JJ Redick believes the Lakers got the short end of the stick in the game, saying his team doesn’t get the same whistle as the Thunder.
“I sarcastically said the other day, they’re the most disruptive team without fouling,” Redick said. “I mean, they have a few guys that foul on every possession. … They’re hard enough to play. They’re hard enough to play, you’ve got to be able to just call them if they foul, and they do foul.”
May 7, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) talks to an referee John Goble mid court after the end of game two of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Guard Austin Reaves also had a tough night with fouls, ending the night with five. A particular exchange before a jump ball in the fourth quarter with referee John Goble stuck with him.
The Lakers were vocal about their dissatisfaction, claiming the officiating was biased and resulted in an unusually high number of fouls against them.
The Lakers were charged with 26 personal fouls, setting a new season high for the team.
JJ Redick is the head coach of the Lakers, and he criticized the officiating, suggesting that his team does not receive the same favorable calls as the Thunder.
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“I felt like I was respectful to all of them all night. I mean, there’s a million times in the past I’ve said way worse stuff,” Reaves said. “And when we were doing the whole jump ball when [the Thunder players] were switching spots, I wanted to get on the other side because they had a guy on the other side, was just trying to keep an advantage. And [Goble] turned around and just yelled in my face. I just thought it was disrespectful.
“At the end of the day, we’re grown men. And I just didn’t feel like he needed to yell in my face like that. I told him that. I wasn’t disrespectful. I told him if I did that to him first, I would have got a tech. I feel like the only reason I didn’t get a tech is because he knew he was in the wrong. So, yeah, I just felt disrespected.”
Reaves still managed to produce for the Lakers despite his foul trouble, posting a playoff career-high 31 points while shooting 62.5%—a stark upgrade from his mediocre performance in Game 1 of the series.
The Lakers will travel back to LA for the next two games, and will have to steal a game or two back from the No. 1 seeded-Thunder if they’re to have any hope for the remainder of the series. Game 3 begins Saturday at 5:30 p.m. PT.
The post Lakers Livid Over Refereeing Performance in Game 2 Loss appeared first on LA Sports Report.