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OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 8: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball in front of Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Paycom Center on April 8, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers passed the first test of these 2026 NBA playoffs with flying colors. Now comes the next one.
But not just any other one.
L.A. ousted the Houston Rockets in six games in the opening round. For the most part, it was no Luka Doncic, no Austin Reaves, no problem.
The Lakers ran into a wall for a couple of games, allowing the Rockets to creep back in and briefly make it an interesting series, but they came out with fresh intensity and urgency to put the series away in Game 6.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are waving from a distance, ready to welcome the opponent into Paycom Center, better known as the House of Horrors for these Lakers.
It was roughly five weeks ago the Lakers season felt zapped in a matter of moments.
Doncic and Reaves suffered injuries. Doncic remains out, while Reaves returned to the court earlier this week.
Going back into Oklahoma City for Game 1 will perhaps feel daunting for the Lakers after what happened the last time they were there. And with the Thunder being the only team to sweep a playoff series this year, it’s safe to say there is plenty for the Lakers to feel intimidated about.
Glance at the series score. One team won four times, the other won twice. It appears like a relatively easy win, especially considering the winning team was up 3-0 at one point.
GettyLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James
If you’ve ever heard a basketball nut tell you it’s never enough to only evaluate the box score, they are right.
The Lakers were clearly better than the Rockets, but that doesn’t entirely mean they were utterly dominant.
In a preview on the Lakers-Thunder series done by NBA.com, there are multiple alarming stats that suggest the Lakers could be in for a very short second round experience against the defending champs.
In the “one key number to know section,” the preview notes the Lakers averaged roughly nine fewer opportunities than the Rockets in round one. Comparatively, the Thunder, who swept the Phoenix Suns, averaged over five more shot opportunities than their opponent in the first round.
Over the first four games of the series, the Lakers got absolutely destroyed in the possession game, with the Rockets totaling 66 more shot opportunities,” NBA.com wrote. “… That will be a tougher task in this series, and it will also be tough to win the possession game against the Thunder. They averaged 5.2 more shot opportunities than the Phoenix Suns, the second biggest differential in the first round, even though the possession game had been the Suns’ biggest strength in the regular season.”
Now turning to the turnover battle, where the Lakers were also beyond just lackluster.
L.A committed 22 more turnovers than the Rockets, according to NBA.com, while the Thunder boasted the best turnover rate in the playoffs entering this weekend.
As a renowned NBA voice said recently, “If you turn the ball over against the Thunder, you will get embarrassed.”
Hopefully the Lakers were listening.
Not that the Lakers feel totally doomed entering their series against the Thunder. But, you know…
For L.A., hope rests in Doncic becoming available to play sooner than later, which doesn’t appear to be the case based on recent reports.
Doncic is projected to miss at least the first two games against the Thunder. And for Games 3 and 4, there is no solid evidence he’ll be ready to go by then, either.
It’s also crucial to note the timeline of the second round compared to the first round.
Against the Rockets, L.A. often played a game every three days, which meant more days passed since Doncic suffered the injury, which meant more time for the star to heal.
In round two, there are fewer days between games. This series starts Tuesday. By Saturday, it’ll already be time for Game 3.
Doncic has been out for over 31 days, but it appears he’ll need considerably more time to rehab.
Adel Ahmad Adel is a writer with over five years of experience covering the NBA. His work has appeared on various media platforms, both national and local. More about Adel Ahmad
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