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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves react with Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic after Doncic scored the game winning basket in overtime against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena on March 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
After the game, LeBron James did not mince words when asked about the Lakers’ offensive struggles. The four-time MVP admitted his team was having a hard time filling the void left by injured guard Luka Doncic, who averaged a league-best 33.5 points and 8.3 assists before going down with a grade 2 hamstring strain.
“We have a guy that averaged 37 a game (not in the lineup),” James said after the loss, via LakersNation.
“… There’s the issues right there,” he added.
“We’re playing against the No. 1 defensive team in the NBA, as far as the ratings and everything. And when you play against great defenses, you have to have guys that can attract multiple defenders on the floor at all times. I feel like we got some great shots tonight, and we missed them. When you play against the World Champions, having a guy that averages 34-8-9, whatever the hell it is, that’s special.”
LeBron James on where the Lakers’ offensive issues are coming from:
“We have a guy that averaged 37 a game (not in the lineup)… There’s the issues right there. We’re playing against the No. 1 defensive team in the NBA, as far as the ratings and everything. And when you play
Further to James’ point, the backcourt of Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart combined for just 20 points on 7-for-31 shooting. James shot 12-for-17 for his 27 points, but took just three shots in the fourth quarter as OKC’s swarming defense denied him the ball. The presence of Luka Doncic would have eased some of that pressure on James.
“So we have to be better at finding ways to get to the blender, finding ways to get to the paint,” James said of playing without Doncic.
“We know they’re a paint-swarming team, so they have to be better with getting to the paint and not turning the ball over and then shooting with confidence. But I feel like we got some really good looks.”
The Lakers, to their credit, trailed by only eight points at the halftime break and cut the deficit to just four points midway through the third quarter. However, ultimately, Thunder’s historically great defense proved too much for James and Co.
So, is there any optimism for a Luka Doncic return against the Thunder?
While Doncic has reportedly yet to begin running or full-court workouts, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported Tuesday that the Slovenian may return at some point in the series.
“I think the Lakers are probably in wait-and-see mode,” Windhorst said on the “Rich Eisen Show.” “If they go to Oklahoma City and they get whalloped in two games, that’ll inform their process. And if they go to OKC and they split … that might inform the process. But, you know, I’ve watched guys come back earlier from hamstring injuries, it can sometimes be tough.
“They said it was a Grade 2 strain. That’s 4-6 weeks. It’s been four. So six weeks is maybe the end of the season. Even if he came back in two weeks, that would not be out of line for [a] Grade 2 [hamstring strain].”
Lakers vs Thunder Game 2 tips at 9:30 p.m. ET on Thursday.
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