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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 12: Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers complains to a referee during action against the Dallas Mavericks in the first half at Crypto.com Arena on February 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Wally Skalij/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Lakers are back in Oklahoma City to play the Thunder in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals on Thursday night. 

L.A. rolled into round two with significant momentum.

Considered a massive underdog in the first round, the Lakers upset the Houston Rockets in six games without Luka Doncic and mostly without Austin Reaves. 

It was LeBron James and Marcus Smart who captained the Lakers to their first playoff series win in three years.

In the first round, the age-defying James and Smart used their experience and savvy to outwork the Rockets. James bent logic once again by doing things uncommon for a 41-year-old. Smart, the battle-tested veteran, steadied the ship and made timely plays.

But it’s safe to say the Lakers are dealing with a much, much tougher task against the defending champs. 

With Doncic still sidelined indefinitely, L.A. is forced to play a nearly flawless series just to stay competitve. 

Los Angeles Lakers Vet Keeps it Blunt

Game 1 didn’t go as the Lakers planned or hoped. They were dealt an 18-point loss after a dominant second half by the Thunder.

Oklahoma City is now an eye-popping 5-0 so far this postseason, with dominant wins at home and on the road. The Thunder ousted the Pheonix Suns in a stress-free four games. Only one game in the series was decided by fewer than double-digits.

GettyChet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dunks against Rui Hachimura #28 and Jarred Vanderbilt #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 05, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

That is the kind of monster the Lakers are up against. And they know it.

Without Doncic, one of the game’s greatest offensive hubs ever, leading the way with his close to 34 points per game average, the Lakers have to dig way deeper to push the champs in round two.

L.A. may have been blown out in Game 1, but the veteran Smart is here to express his confidence in the Lakers, saying they won’t back down from the champs.

“I learned what I guess I didn’t know, but I kind of did know, is that I still got it,” Smart said in an interview with ClutchPoints. “Being able to be back in the playoffs, playing with LeBron, after playing against him for so many years. It feels good, right? You got a guy who knows the game, going to give everything he has. He wants to win and is just as competitive as [me]. So, it was a good feeling.

“We’re not done. It feels good to be back out here on a big stage against the defending champions, having a chance to showcase some more.”

Adjustments for Game 2

A lot will need to change in Thursday’s Game if the Lakers hope to avoid another lopsided defeat. Smart and the Lakers know that.

“We started off great. We were doing really well. We were in the game,” Smart said. “We held them to 101-105-ish before late in the end. We’re playing the defending champs. It’s going to be tough. They’re going to make some tough shots. Some tough plays. We just can’t let that derail us, right? We’ve got to stay with it. But I’m very positive in the way that the game plan is.”

With no Doncic and Reaves still working his way back from injury, the Lakers have turned to James, who scored 27 points on a roughly  77% true shooting percentage in Game 1.

James started the game in attack mode, rushing out to 12 early points, including a pair of 3-pointers and an and-1 to start the game.

The Thunder ultimately clobbered the Lakers with their endless depth and waves of suffocating halfcourt defense. 

With Reaves and Luke Kennard badly struggling, L.A. didn’t have much outside of James and Smart, who was assertive, to lean on.

L.A. has to play a cleaner game Thursday.