3 things to watch in Thunder-Lakers Game 4
LeBron James and the Lakers have their palms full in their sequence towards the Thunder.
LeBron James has trailed 3-0 in an NBA playoff sequence 5 occasions earlier than this season. James and his groups have been swept 3 times and misplaced the opposite two sequence in 5 video games.
James, who helped engineer one of many best comebacks in playoff historical past when Cleveland beat the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 Finals after falling behind 3-1, is aware of how troublesome it’s to get again in a sequence.
Down 3-0 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Lakers and James will attempt to lengthen the sequence in Game 4 Monday in Los Angeles (10:30 ET, Prime Video).
“We still got life, and that’s all you can ask for,” James mentioned following the Thunder’s 131-108 victory in Game 3 Saturday. “We’ve got to be much better on Monday.”
Here are three things to watch in Game 4:
1. History is overwhelmingly on the Thunder’s facet
Past outcomes usually are not at all times predictive of future outcomes. However, there have been 162 accomplished sequence in which a group has taken a 3-0 lead and no group down 3-0 has ever received the following 4 video games.
In the 2026 NBA Playoffsthree different groups have trailed 3-0. The Thunder beat the Phoenix Suns in 4 video games, the (*4*) to six video games earlier than shedding and the New York Knicks swept the Philadelphia 76ers.
Just 4 occasions in these 162 sequence has a group compelled a Game 7: The Boston Celtics misplaced to the Miami Heat in 2023; the Portland Trail Blazers misplaced to the Dallas Mavericks in 2003; the Denver Nuggets misplaced to the Utah Jazz in 1994; and the New York Knicks misplaced to the Rochester Royals in 1951.
2. For the Lakers, it begins with James and Reaves
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LeBron James drops 27 factors together with six assists in Game 1 vs. theThunder.
If the Lakers need to win a recreation in this sequence, LeBron James and Austin Reaves cannot shoot a mixed 12-for-32 from the sector – together with 3-for-11 on 3-pointers – for 36 whole factors.
Yes, Reaves is simply coming back from an indirect harm sustained late in the season and certain will not be 100%. But he had 31 factors on 10-for-16 taking pictures in Game 2.
That’s what the Lakers want from Reaves.
James is averaging 23 factors, 6.7 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals and taking pictures 51.9% from the sector and 37.5% on 3-pointers towards the Thunder.
Those are definitely strong stats towards the league’s greatest protection. But it is nonetheless not sufficient. This sequence requires James to be nearer to triple-double numbers.
Then the position gamers – particularly Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Deandre Ayton – can assist with higher performances. Rui Hachimura has excelled offensively towards the Thunder, averaging 18.3 factors and taking pictures 57.1% on 3-pointers.
But these are troublesome questions towards Oklahoma City. Redick has tried to discover solutions by altering rotations and schemes, however the Thunder have had higher counters.
The Lakers are caught round into the third quarter however cannot hold with the Thunder, who’ve outscored the Lakers 189-135 in the second half.
3. The Thunder are the No. 1 seed for a number of causes
Lakers coach JJ Redick retains saying the Lakers have to be higher. He’s not mistaken.
The Lakers have made too many unforced errors, and regardless that the Lakers have held Oklahoma City All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to 10 factors beneath their season common, the Thunder nonetheless received three video games by a median of 19.7 factors.
It helps to have Chet Holmgren who’s averaging 21.3 factors, 10 rebounds and a couple of.0 blocks and taking pictures 59.5% from the sector and 45.5% on 3s.
Ajay Mitchell is averaging 20.7 factors and three different gamers (Cason Wallace, Jared McCain and Isaiah Hartenstein) are averaging at the very least 10 factors.
Redick referred to as the Thunder “an incredible basketball team” and mentioned their prime 13 gamers could be among the many prime seven or eight rotation gamers on another group in the league.
It is a rotation that options 10 gamers averaging at the very least 10 minutes, and people gamers every contribute in a number of methods.
The Thunder are loaded with offensive and defensive expertise – a mix that overwhelms opponents.
Redick wasn’t resigned to a sweep: “Still think we can beat them.”
The gargantuan job towards the defending champions begins with Game 4.
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Jeff Zillgitt has lined the NBA since 2008. You can electronic mail him at jzillgitt@nba.comdiscover his archive here and follow him on.
