Author: NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

LOS ANGELES – The last time the Lakers played at home, they were on cloud nine.

They took down an Eastern Conference contender in the Cavaliers, which concluded an elite month of March basketball where they won 15 of 17 games.

Back in Los Angeles on Tuesday, they looked unrecognizable.

Gone are Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, who will miss the rest of the regular season due to injury. With Marcus Smart and LeBron James also ruled out, the only regular starter playing was Deandre Ayton.

It meant Lakers head coach JJ Redick had to try things he’s never done before in the final week of the regular season.

He rolled out a new starting unit, one that featured two-way big Drew Timme, who is ineligible for postseason play. Dalton Knecht made an appearance. Adou Thiero saw the most playing time in his career.

Led by that youth and inexperience, the Lakers didn’t stand a chance against the Thunder, losing 123-87 for their third straight loss.

“We’re undermanned right now,” Redick said postgame. “It’s important that everybody is trying to play the right way and play for the team. I think certainly there were several guys that did some good things tonight.”

There’s nothing wrong with seeing good efforts from players like Timme and Thiero, but it’s hard to watch them take on the defending champions when a week ago, Dončić and James were in that position.

Last week, confetti was falling on fans inside Crypto.com Arena in celebration. On Tuesday, those same fans were exiting the building before the fourth quarter even began.

Injuries are no one’s fault, but it’s jarring to watch the Lakers go from superstar guards like Luka to now relying on Luke Kennard and Bronny James to win them games.

As unfair as the path has become for the Lakers, Redick’s goal now is to find players who can help this team win games so they can extend this season long enough to potentially get back Dončić and Reaves.

“We’ve got to find nine guys that are all in on us fighting,” Redick said. “Whatever you got to do to go out and fight and be all in on the team, we’ll find the nine guys. It’s a great opportunity for us over the next three games to find those guys.”

A week ago, the Lakers had those nine players and then some. Now, they’ll likely have to play the rest of the way without the players who got them into this position to begin with.

The good news for Redick and the Lakers is that some of the guys who can help them win likely will be returning. LeBron should be back for at least one of these upcoming contests on Thursday and Friday and Redick mentioned pregame that Smart is trending towards playing this week.

Still, the reality is that the Lakers are not the team they were in March. And now the April schedule is filled with losses and the odds of a postseason run are shrinking by the day.

None of this feels like a reality anyone would have expected a week ago.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

Lakers coach JJ Redick said the verbal exchange with reserve forward Jarred Vanderbilt during the second quarter of Tuesday’s 123-87 blowout loss to the Thunder was “nothing personal” and a “normal interaction” for Redick. 

Redick called timeout following the Lakers’ first possession of the second 16 seconds into the quarter after a Kobe Bufkin missed floater that last touched Alex Caruso and flew out of bounds.

As the Lakers were going back to the bench, Vanderbilt walked into the coaches’ huddle and animatedly appeared to try to talk to Redick, who was using the white board with assistant coach Greg St. Jean.

Another snippet of the interaction between Jarred Vanderbilt and JJ Redick during the Lakers' timeout early in the 2Q. https://t.co/BOcdzjXrpIpic.twitter.com/hISVkYYevW

— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) April 8, 2026

Star guard Austin Reaves, who is sidelined with an oblique injury, stepped between Vanderbilt and Redick and assistant coach Nate McMillan held Vanderbilt’s back before Redick walked to the team’s bench, with McMillan and Reaves staying back with Vanderbilt. 

Once back near the bench, Vanderbilt continued talking to Redick, who at one point during the exchange shrugged and waved Vanderbilt off.

McMillan gestured to Vanderbilt to stay back before stepping between Redick and Vanderbilt as Redick talked to Vanderbilt as he was getting up from the bench. 

“A confluence of things,” Redick responded when asked what led to the exchange with Vanderbilt. “Again, it’s nothing personal with him. Normal stuff from my end. I think for all of us, being undermanned, we’ve got to scrap and claw, we’ve got to all be on the same page, We got to be great teammates, we got to all play hard. Called a timeout to get him out of the game. And he reacted, but again, normal interaction for me.” 

Vanderbilt didn’t play again after being subbed out. 

The broadcast caught a little bit of the back and forth: https://t.co/abjjCTCRh1pic.twitter.com/LBvrGigfXc

— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) April 8, 2026

He finished with three points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal in 5 minutes. 

Vanderbilt left the arena without speaking to reporters postgame.

When asked what Vanderbilt wasn’t doing in his lone playing time shift, Redick responded, “again, it was a confluence of things.”

"Just a confluence of things. It's nothing personal with him." – JJ Redick on the back and forth with Jarred Vanderbilt in the 2Q https://t.co/zwgFqJQDMypic.twitter.com/vfZb9CsONG

— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) April 8, 2026

The exchange with Vanderbilt was the second time Redick quickly called a timeout early in the quarter to pull a veteran player. 

Redick called timeout 2 ½ minutes into the game before taking out Rui Hachimura, who later returned and ended up finishing with a team-high 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting to go with five assists in 26 minutes.  

“I called the early timeout because Rui didn’t do his job, so took him out of the game,” Redick explained. “We’ve got to find nine guys that are all in on us fighting and willing to go out on whatever metaphor you want to use — I don’t want to use a war metaphor in this time — but whatever you got to do to go out and fight and be all in on the team, we’ll find the nine guys. It’s a great opportunity for us, over the next three games to find those guys.”

We’re so close to the end of a dreadful 2025-26 season of Dallas Mavericks basketball that we can taste it.

Wednesday’s game between the Mavericks (25-54) and the Phoenix Suns (43-35) at Mortgage Matchup Center wraps up the final back-to-back set for Dallas with three games remaining on the schedule. The Mavs are coming into the game on the heels of Tuesday’s 116-103 loss at the Los Angeles Clippers, while the Suns come in on one night’s rest after dropping a game to the Houston Rockets, 119-105.

Star-spangled Cooper

Cooper Flagg’s brilliance in the two games before Tuesday’s loss has kept the flailing Mavericks in the wider NBA conversation, as opinions fly in every direction concerning the NBA Rookie of the Year race. His 25 points on 9-of-25 shooting against the Clippers isn’t quite as strong an argument for his candidacy, but he’s still filling up the stat sheet on a nightly basis as the season winds down.

The implications

The Suns will be motivated to win Wednesday’s game, as the Clippers sit just two games back of Phoenix for the seventh seed in the Western Conference, with the playoff picture coming into focus. The Mavericks’ motivation, as is well documented, is only for better draft lottery odds at this point.

This should be a fairly straightforward handshake deal between two erstwhile rivals.

Can-do attitude

The Mavericks’ try-hard tendency is admirable. The guys on the court are competitors, and it’s resulted in a 16-27 record in clutch games this season.

But the unspoken objective is clear: obtain the best odds to get as high a pick as possible in the upcoming NBA Draft. Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd needs to examine the end of the roster as closely as possible in the last three games of the season in order to give this team its best chance to find some upward trajectory next season.

How to watch

The Mavericks and the Suns tip off from Mortgage Matchup Center at 9 p.m. CDT. The game will be televised locally on KFAA Channel 29 and on sister stations throughout the Mavericks’ regional viewership area. You can catch the stream on MavsTV and on NBA League Pass where available.

Victor Wembanyama may miss some time after a rib injury scare in the San Antonio Spurs 115-102 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Reports indicate Wembanyama’s injury isn’t serious, and he will likely suit up for the one required game he has to play to qualify for end-of-season awards. However, he will likely miss the Spurs’ final matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers this season, as he is listed as doubtful. Stephon Castle joins him on the injury report with the same designation.

This will be the rubber match between Portland and San Antonio, as the series is tied 1-1. The Blazers defeated the Spurs in their last matchup, 115-110, a game in which Wembanyama also sat out, and Luke Kornet led the team with 23 points. Portland is fighting hard for its playoff positioning, as they sit just a half-game back of the Los Angeles Clippers for 8th in the Western Conference. This game could impact who the Spurs play in the first round and could be a preview of a potential playoff series.

San Antonio Spurs (60-19) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (40-39)

April 8th, 2026 | 8:30 PM CT

Watch: ESPN | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: Stephon Castle – Doubtful (knee), Victor Wembanyama – Doubtful (rib), Harrison Ingram – Questionable (G League), David Jones-Garcia – Out (ankle), Emanuel Miller – Questionable (G League)

Trail Blazers Injuries: Jerami Grant – Out (calf), Vit Krejci – Doubtful (calf), Damian Lillard – Out (achilles), Shaedon Sharpe – Doubtful (fibula)

What to watch for:

Grabbing defensive rebounds

The Blazers are awesome offensive rebounders. If Wembanyama is a Godzilla-type figure, then Donovan Clingan is his King Kong (or Cling Kong) counterpart. The Portland big man leads the league in offensive rebounds with 4.5 a game. Without Wembanyama, Kornet will be counted on to keep Clingan off the glass. It’ll have to be a team effort on the boards, though. The Blazers are 2nd in the NBA with 14.1 offensive rebounds per game. Allowing second-chance points will crush the Spurs’ chances of winning.

Small ball advantage?

The Spurs often go to a small-ball second unit when Wembanyama sits. Carter Bryant has surprisingly been the team’s best third center on the roster this year. Against bigger teams, that lack of size can sometimes come back to bite San Antonio. Against Portland, however, it could work to their advantage. Robert Williams III is a stout, athletic defender, but not much of an offensive threat. Bryant should be able to handle him on the defensive end. On offense, the Spurs will have more ball-handlers and floor spacers to take advantage of a Portland defense that already allows 116.1 points per game. This may be the one game the Spurs’ small-ball lineup could end up a net-positive.

Dylan Harper starting

With Castle potentially resting this game, Harper should get a shot in the starting unit. In his two games as a starter, Harper averaged 17 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. He’s been playing some excellent basketball lately, shooting the ball effectively, scoring around the rim, and playing tough defense on the perimeter. He’ll have his work cut out for him against tough perimeter defenders like Toumani Camara and Jrue Holiday, but a big game in the starting five could be exactly what Harper needs to hit the ground running into the playoffs.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are within reach of clinching the NBA's Western Conference top spot for the third season running after thrashing the Los Angeles Lakers for the second time in six days.

A 123-87 victory on Tuesday means the Thunder are one win - or one San Antonio Spurs loss - from ensuring they finish top.

The Lakers had lost 139-96 to the defending NBA champions on Thursday - one of their heaviest defeats in their history.

This time, despite being without Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James, they stayed with the Thunder into the second quarter before their opponents scored 23 points - conceding just five - in the final seven minutes and 16 seconds of the half to take control.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points in 28 minutes - extending to 139 his record for most consecutive games with 20 or more points - as his side secured their sixth consecutive win and their 18th in 19 games.

The defeat for the Lakers was their third in a row - they fall behind the Denver Nuggets in the chase for third spot in the Conference.

Rui Hachimura led the home side with 15 points with no other Lakers player scoring more than 11.

Elsewhere, the Phoenix Suns missed out on an automatic play-off spot after losing 119-105 to the Houston Rockets.

Kevin Durant who was traded from Phoenix to Houston last year, scored 24 points against his former team with sections of the Suns home crowd subjecting him to boos throughout the game.

The defeat for the Suns means the Minnesota Timberwolves have secured the final play-off spot in the Conference after their comprehensive 124-104 success over the struggling Indiana Pacers.

The Boston Celtics closed in on securing second seed in the Eastern Conference after holding off the in-form Charlotte Hornets 113-102 while the Toronto Raptors kept their automatic play-off hopes on track with a 121-95 win over the Miami Heat, who will now be involved in next week's play-in tournament, along with the Suns.

What is with the Suns dominating the first quarter and then struggling throughout? I could have sworn that in the last game I covered against the Charlotte Hornets, the Suns did the same thing they did tonight. This time, though, it definitely stung more for multiple reasons. One was that the Suns had a 24-0 run in the first quarter, giving them 37 first-quarter points. This would set the stage for an explosive game throughout, but sadly, it missed the mark.

This was also a big one for both teams, with Kevin Durant’s return to the Valley after he missed their first meeting due to injury. For the Suns, they also had Jalen Green, who missed their first matchup, and was looking to provide a showcase as well. Sadly for the Suns, Durant won that battle, even if he had a rough start, finishing with 24 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.

For the Suns, Booker got off to a hot start and found himself at the line 16 times, which was incredible to see. He finished with 31 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists, but it was just not enough for Phoenix. The Rockets continued to attack the glass, outrebounding the Suns 55-34 (24-10 on the offensive glass). This was a big reason for the Rockets’ ability to generate second-chance points and keep them in a fighting chance throughout. Eventually, it just pushed over the limit because of Phoenix’s shooting struggles. A 7-of-31 shooting night from three is not going to cut it, and Phoenix looks clear it’s in for a tough couple of weeks ahead.

Game Flow

First Half

In a game, the Suns wanted to come out of the gates swinging; they did, and man, was it a beauty to witness. Right from the jump, Devin Booker started heating up, making his first three shots and getting a quick eight points. Some great hustle and three-pointers accompanied this, from Jordan Goodwin, sparking a huge run for the Suns. One that continued and snowballed into a 24-0 run here in the first quarter, with Mark Williams at the forefront.

Goodie with a pair of early triples 👌 pic.twitter.com/eEPkGygbDt

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) April 8, 2026

His dominance on the glass made Alpren Sengun struggle to get any rebounds, and his ability to score on the other end gave the crowd the excitement they craved. Phoenix was locked in, as they needed to be, for the postseason, and it could not have come at a better time.

Williams impacting both ends early. Active hands disrupting, creating second chances, and holding Sengun in check defensively

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) April 8, 2026

That being said, Houston did stop the run with a Kevin Durant mid-range and did start to climb back into this one. They started to find their groove with Reed Shepperd and Amen Thompson finding some offensive flow. At the end of one, Phoenix was in the lead 37-21 and looked to be in control of this one if they kept the momentum up.

The second quarter was not much of an offensive explosion to start, but it still had its moments. The Suns continued to see that value from Goodwin come to play, as he was once again active on both ends and made a nice three. The Suns have also done a great job of limiting their front court from doing anything, while their bigs have 16 points combined.

Then the quarter started to get interesting, after Brooks and Durant were arguing with each other. Durant started to feel his rhythm and made Brooks fall with a nice crossover move. The refs also started to get involved, handing out a tech to each team in just 90 seconds. First was given to Booker after complaining about a foul he deserved; the other was given to Jae’Sean Tate, who stepped on Dillon Brooks.

KEVIN DURANT HAD DILLON BROOKS STUMBLING. 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/vdk6c5en3r

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 8, 2026

The Suns, who were now struggling behind the arc, changed their game plan. They began attacking the basket and scoring on the Suns’ bigs, forcing multiple trips to the line. Booker led this charge and did it with no fear to keep the Suns in the lead. Booker leads the team with 21 points and a fantastic first half as the Suns are up 57-54. A very physical match is set up for a be wild finish here.

Devin Booker in the first half:

21 points
4 assists
3/4 on 2's
2/5 on 3's
9/10 at the line

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) April 8, 2026

Second Half

The third was a rough start for Phoenix as they could not find a basket outside the free throw line. Their first six points came at eight shots at the charity stripe, until Brooks found some heat. He made back-to-back shots, including a nice three to help him after a tough shooting night. Green also had this acrobatic finish doing a 360 spin move for the layup. This spark from the two seeking revenge against the Rockets kept the Suns in the lead.

What a finish by Jalen Green, plus the foul pic.twitter.com/7W9GrjYXTV

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) April 8, 2026

Yet the Rockets did take some control back in this one as they had Josh Okogie replace Reed Shepperd in the starting lineup. This move allowed them to be more physical and create some mismatches on the defensive end. His impact alongside Durant, making winning plays, allowed the Rockets to shrink the lead and keep it within arm’s reach.

The Suns cannot catch a break on the offensive glass as Houston just grabs every rebound and turns it into second-chance points. With their shooting struggles as well, the one thing keeping them in this game is their ability to get to the free-throw line. At the end of the third, the Suns were blessed to see a Royce O’Neale three-pointer finally fall and to have a three-point lead, 84-81.

Headed to the fourth.@match_mortgage | #SunsUppic.twitter.com/gghldhF3Pu

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) April 8, 2026

Unfortunately for Phoenix, this was their worst start to a quarter, and it came at a terrible time. With Durant on the bench, the Rockets went on an 8-0 run and took the lead right form undenrath Phoenix’s grasp. They also continued to dominate the glass with Sengun now finding his shots at the rim. The Suns just do not have the size to match and need to see a change, implementing a wing like Ryan Dunn or Rasheer Fleming to match Houston.

The onslaught continued from the Rockets as their runs seemed to multiply in the fourth. Jabari Smith Jr. hit some big-time threes, and Amen Thompson had some crazy finishes late to make you realize how lethal Houston is. Even with the 24-0 run, this Houston team can bounce back, yet the Suns found no answer offensively after the first.

Sadly for Phoenix, it was just not enough, even with the hot start. They fell ot the Rockets in a heartbreaking collapse after such a great start. This loss will sting the Suns, as they are still in seventh in the West but have now fallen a game behind the Clippers, who beat the Mavericks tonight.

Tonight's Final.@match_mortgage | #SunsUppic.twitter.com/3mEBYu6uSc

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) April 8, 2026

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Up Next

The Suns have their final back-to-back of the season and their final home game against the Dallas Mavericks.

The Dallas Mavericks were out west Tuesday night to take on the Los Angeles Clippers in what ended in a 116-103 loss. This one started very ugly, got better to the tune of the Mavs impossibly taking a lead, and then trended back to ugly. Here are a few stats to know from a rough night.

17 straight: Clippers scoring run to begin the game

The Clippers absolutely blitzed the Mavs from the opening tip. Their 17-0 scoring run took place over the first three minutes and 22 seconds of the game, putting the Mavs in a large hole almost instantly. The scoring outburst wasn’t so much a haymaker as it was a high-speed food processor that calmly obliterated whatever it touched. The Clippers shot over 70% from the floor during (and beyond) their run, ripping through the Mavs with precision. Meanwhile, all Mavs not named Cooper Flagg couldn’t quite find the touch until the latter half of the quarter when Marvin Bagley checked in to help Flagg chip away at the lead just a bit.

35%: The Mavericks overall shooting percentage

The Clippers 17-0 run to start the game was due in part to the Mavs missing makable shots, a trend that continued throughout the night. The Mavs managed to hoist up 100 total shots, but only made 35 of them. Missing 65 shots in 48 minutes is a remarkable feat for all the wrong reasons. Amazingly, players such as Marvin Bagley (8-for-11) and Ryan Nembhard (6-for-12) were very efficient, which really goes to show you just how bad the shooting was from everyone else.

18.2%: The Mavericks three-point shooting percentage

If you thought the prior stat was bad, this one really takes the cake. Dallas converted at a 6-for-33 clip from deep on Tuesday night. For perspective, Kawhi Leonard matched the entire output of the Mavs’ team from downtown. Klay Thompson was the biggest culprit for Dallas, going 1-for-10 from beyond the arc, though Max Christie’s 0-for-5 was nothing to write home about either. Dallas has not been a good three-point shooting team all year, but this was shockingly bad to witness.

27/28: Dallas’ free throw attempts and makes

The only thing the Mavs could hit against Los Angeles was free throws, of which they got many. Dallas was an exceptional 27-for-28 from the free throw line. Despite it not helping the outcome, it at least made the final score look a tad more presentable. The starters who attempted a free throw (Flagg, Christie and Dwight Powell) were a perfect 20-for-20 from the stripe

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

At the end of the first quarter of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 123–87 dismantling of the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, the UCLA Bruins women’s basketball team walked into the spotlight carrying something heavier than gold — their place in history.

Just two nights removed from a 79–51 title-clinching win over the South Carolina Gamecocks in the NCAA national championship in Phoenix, the Bruins were introduced at halfcourt.

Head coach Cori Close stood off to the left, with stars Lauren Betts, Sienna Betts, Gabriela Jaquez, Kiki Rice, and the rest of the team holding up their national championship trophy and waving at fans.

The women of Westwood got the loudest ovation by far, especially considering it was another blowout for the purple and gold at the hands of OKC. 

Even some of the celebrities sitting courtside took notice. Academy Award nominee for best actress, Kate Hudson, sat courtside and greeted the players, giving them her congratulations on their impressive performance.

The champs are here! The Lakers honor UCLA Women’s basketball team after winning the 2026 NCAA tournament pic.twitter.com/ullOVNxdM7

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) April 8, 2026

The same could not be said for the Lakers. Playing without LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves the team didn’t put up much of a fight against the reigning NBA champions.

The only fight that did take place happened on the Lakers bench as guard Jarred Vanderbilt exchanged words with Lakers’ head coach J.J. Redick during a timeout early in the second quarter.

The Lakers fell into a tie for fourth place in the Western Conference with the Houston Rockets after the loss.

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The final score of Tuesday’s game was both a reflection of the chasm in talent between the Lakers and Thunder but also not entirely indicative of the effort LA gave to start the game either.

For the opening 18 minutes, the hosts held their own on the back of effort and energy plays on both ends. Some timely 3-pointers from unlikely — and unsustainable — sources helped them keep pace with Oklahoma City. But once the threes dried up and the free throws clanked off the rim endlessly, LA didn’t have any more answers and, well, you get a 36-point defeat.

As a result and considering the circumstances, there’s going to be a lot of grace given in these grades. Not one player was playing a role they’re suited for and many of the players have more minutes in the G League than the NBA in recent months. And they were playing against the best team in the NBA. This was never going to be pretty.

So, let’s dive into the loss. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.

Drew Timme

27 minutes, 11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls, 4-9 FG, 2-4 3PT, 1-2 FT, -26

An unexpected start for Timme, who started the game really well with 10 early points. That he finished with 11 points should tell you how the rest of the game went.

Grade: B

Rui Hachimura

26 minutes, 15 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, 7-10 FG, 1-1 3PT, 0-3 FT, -24

For very obvious reasons, it’s flown under the radar that Rui has been in a great shooting rhythm over the last week or so.

Grade: B+

Deandre Ayton

23 minutes, 3 points, 3 rebounds, 1 block, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 1-4 FG, 1-2 FT, -26

As harsh as you could be with Ayton after putting up this stat line, he was being defended by a First Team All-Defense caliber player in Chet Holmgren and was without the four ballhandlers he has the most chemistry with.

Grade: C+

Jake LaRavia

20 minutes, 2 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, 1-7 FG, 0-4 3PT, 0-2 FT, -19

There were a couple of possessions in that first half that were nice sequences in which LaRavia ended up with an open look from three. And, well…

He does so many of the little things that if he can consistently knock down shots, he’d be a big gamechanger.

Grade: C-

Luke Kennard

23 minutes, 10 points, 2 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, 4-7 FG, 0-2 3PT, 2-3 FT, -23

Of all the players who have had their role change the most in the last five days, Kennard might top that list. From largely an off-ball scorer to the lead point guard tonight.

Grade: B

Adou Thiero

21 minutes, 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 2-4 FG, 1-2 3PT, 5-10 FT, -15

Finally, Thiero got some run and it was as fun as you’d hope. Head coach JJ Redick mentioned that he was right at his minutes restriction, but he did a lot in that short span.

Grade: A-

Bronny James

23 minutes, 4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 2-9 FG, 0-5 3PT, -25

Bronny does look a lot more comfortable now, but his jumper is still shaky at best. It should be the biggest thing he works on this summer. He’s a consistent 3-pointer away from being a legitimate rotation player.

Grade: C-

Kobe Bufkin

18 minutes, 9 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 2-6 FG, 2-2 3PT, 3-4 FT, +0

Another player with some surprise early minutes. The bulk of his stats, however, came in garbage time. It was nice to see him get some run and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they try him out a bit more to try to get some more scoring off the bench.

Grade: B

Maxi Kleber

13 minutes, 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 1-2 FG, 0-1 3PT, -5

A pretty meh performance in limited minutes for Kleber.

Grade: C

Dalton Knecht

19 minutes, 5 points, 4 rebounds, 3 turnovers, 1 foul, 2-6 FG, 1-2 3PT, -3

We’re not at a point in Knecht’s career where he isn’t even dominating garbage time. Those used to be the minutes he would at least dominate.

Grade: C-

Nick Smith Jr.

12 minutes, 11 points, 2 assists, 1 foul, 4-6 FG, 1-2 3PT, 2-2 FT, -5

Only fourth quarter minutes for NSJ. He’s seen his role usurped by the combo of Bufkin and Bronny, so it’s hard to imagine him getting much more run this year.

Grade: B+

Chris Mañon

12 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1-2 FG, -5

A very rare extended run for Mañon, who received G League All-Defense honors earlier in the day.

Grade: C+

Jarred Vanderbilt

It was an adventurous start for Vando, who made his lone shot and was active but also missed all three free throws after being fouled on a long-range shot late in the first. His night abruptly ended in the second quarter when Redick called an early timeout and pulled him from the game for, as he said postgame, a “confluence of things.” Vando never returned, logging only five minutes.

JJ Redick

It’s a pretty impossible situation Redick has been placed in, but credit for him for having the team ready at the jump. The result felt inevitable, but the fight the team had not just in the opening 18 minutes, but throughout the game was evident.

Even with the likes of LeBron James, Marcus Smart and Jaxson Hayes out tonight but set to return, hopefully some more of the young Lakers continue to get minutes as well.

Grade: B

Tuesday’s inactives: LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Jaxson Hayes

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

BOSTON — For more than two weeks, Jordan Walsh didn’t lace up. The 22-year-old, who had, at one point, started 20 straight games for the Celtics, had completely fallen out of the rotation.

Still, Walsh kept an even-keeled mindset and perspective throughout that adversity.

“I’m still okay with where I’m at because Year 1, I had no chance of playing,” Walsh told CelticsBlog on March 22nd, amid a string of DNPS. “This year, I started 20 games, and we went 15 and 5 — and I proved that I can play at a high level.”

At that point — just over two weeks ago — it seemed likely that Walsh had permanently fallen out of the rotation. But, one hallmark characteristic of this Celtics season has been that as soon as it appears Joe Mazzulla has a solidified rotation, things change.

That latest change?

Jordan Walsh is back.

Over the past 7 games, Walsh has re-established himself as a key member of the Celtics lineup, averaging 20.2 minutes per game.

And, in a Tuesday night win against the Charlotte Hornets, he was crucial, tallying 9 points (on 4-4 FG), 6 rebounds, and a steal in 18 minutes of action — while also guarding Hornets star LaMelo Ball for much of the second half.

“He just understands that when he’s at his best defensively, he’s impacting the team’s best players, creating turnovers,” said Mazzulla. “I thought he was big tonight.”

Jaylen Brown, who has been one of Walsh’s mentors over the past few seasons, praised Walsh’s impact in the game.

“Jordan has the ability to change games,” Brown said. “His athleticism has the ability to change games. So that’s something that in the playoffs or future certain matchups, that will definitely be just continuing to urge him to have discipline and make the right plays out there and bring energy to our group. It makes a big difference.”

Brown pointed to a transition basket Walsh got in the first half as a key moment swing for the Celtics.

“Tonight, our offense wasn’t going in that second quarter, [he] gets out and runs with the transition dump that gets us going,” he said. “Plays like that are important.”

Jordan Walsh with the takeaway from LaMelo Ball 😈 pic.twitter.com/HCzfQkUqp7

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) April 8, 2026

Jordan Walsh never changed his approach while sidelined

Amid his DNPs, Walsh said that he had leaned on his teammates to gain perspective on how to handle a changing role.

“I’ve gotten a piece of everybody’s story — Payton [Pritchard], JB [Jaylen Brown], Xavier [Tillman], all these people kind of went through similar things,” Walsh said last month. “I’ve gotten their story, and they gave me their knowledge on it.”

At that point, Walsh concluded he’d ensure that his attention to detail and work behind the scenes didn’t waver, regardless of his on-court opportunities. He’d work just as hard as practice, and be just as meticulous in the film room, ready for the moment in which his number might be called.

“It’s kind of just doing my best in the role that I am in now, and that’s just supporting the guys, showing up to practice, being the last one to leave,” Walsh said then. “Like, all that stuff is so cool to me.”

And, Joe Mazzulla took notice.

“When it’s not your turn, what’s your mindset and what’s your consistency? Still chipping away at the workouts? hHw serious do you take a film?” Mazzulla said on Tuesday. “So [I’ve seen] professionalism and consistency from Jordan, and I think Tyler [Lashbrook] does a great job with the guys that he works with, making sure that they’re ready. But it starts with Jordan’s mindset — if you’re not playing, how are you getting better? And so he continues to do that, and I think that’s why he could pick up where he left off.”

Brown thinks Walsh has improved, even though it hasn’t always been easy.

“Just throughout the whole season, I’ve seen an increase and just a better feel overall for what is needed and what he needs to do when he’s out there on the floor,” Brown said. “He’s just managed that well. At times, it’s not been in his favor, but I think he’s kept a level head.”

Jayson Tatum has similarly been impressed by Walsh’s approach this year.

“Just being ready — not necessarily knowing when he’s going to get in, but knowing that part of being a professional is when your number is called to come in and change the game — crash the glass, defensive rebound, pick up 94-feet, hit open shots,” Tatum said after the Celtics 115-102 win over the Hornets. “And give him credit, he definitely did — [he] changed the energy of the game.”

Still, how Walsh will impact the Celtics in the postseason remains to be seen — he’s never laced up for real postseason action. Jaylen Brown is looking forward to seeing how that shakes it.

“Playoffs is a time of year where you put it all on display, everything that you learn, all the discipline that you’ve acquired, all of that stuff — the ultimate test is coming up,” Brown said.

Walsh’s Stay Ready mindset embodies the season the Celtics have put together thus far. Some nights, it’s been Hugo Gonzalez. Other nights, it’s been Baylor Scheierman, Sam Hauser, or Luka Garza. Heck, even Josh Minott — now a Brooklyn Net — helped win the Celtics a few games.

That’s how the roster exceeded expectations en route to 54 wins — and counting.

Joe Mazzulla summed it up best.

“The story of our season up until this point,” he said, “is we got 14, 15 guys that can impact winning.”

After four straight losses, the Golden State Warriors are back in the win column, with a 110-105 victory over the scrappy — but lowly — Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night at the Chase Center.

From the opening tip, it was clear that the Warriors had energy thanks to the return of Steph Curry, who played in his second game following a 27-game absence. Despite Curry’s return, the Warriors were still extremely beat up, and playing without Al Horford, Kristaps Porziņģis, Quinten Post, Gui Santos, and Will Richard, to go along with the season-ending injuries that Moses Moody (who appeared at the arena to massive applause) and Jimmy Butler III sustained. Then again, the Warriors weren’t getting sympathy points from a Kings team that was without Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan, among others.

But it was evident that Curry’s return had rejuvenated the Warriors, who brought full-on hustle to an arena that finally had life in it. That said, it took the funky starting lineup — Pat Spencer, De’Anthony Melton, Brandin Podziemski, Draymond Green, and Malevy Leons — quite a while to find some rhythm, though they finally did locate a little, led by Spencer. Golden State’s defense was solid, while Sacramento’s offense was tremendously ugly at the beginning. The Warriors had gone 3-for-4 on threes before the Kings even attempted a shot from distance.

But even so, the Warriors couldn’t gain much separation, because their offense was still struggling. Curry checked in at the 6:24 mark with the Dubs leading by just a single point, and, not surprisingly, the spacing instantly improved. Yet that seemed to coincide with the Kings realizing that they were a very athletic team, and they started to use that to an advantage, opening up a lead in the process. After a few minutes, Curry started to get into a flow, and the Warriors trailed 26-25 after a closely-contested, back-and-forth opening frame.

The second quarter was weird, especially at the beginning. The Warriors dialed up the energy level to 11, while lowering the execution level to 0.5. They weren’t sloppy — that would come in the third quarter — but they just couldn’t get anything going, at least on offense. They weren’t able to make good passes, or get open looks, or convert buckets.

Around the halfway mark, Curry returned, along with Green and Seth Curry, and that sparked the Dubs, who started using defense to lead to offense. Suddenly the Warriors were clicking — Melton was playing his best game in ages — and they had a 48-40 lead. The Kings responded with a few buckets, before Curry stole the momentum back with an unreal four-point play. Podziemski, who bailed the offense out time and time again, added a three shortly later, pushing the lead to double digits for the first time all game. Not long after that, Curry somehow managed a second four-point play, and suddenly the Warriors lead was 16.

At the break, they led 66-53. They had turned the ball over just five times. Life was good.

They had no idea what awaited them on the other side of halftime.

Sloppiness. That’s what awaited them, so it was entirely a self-inflicted wound, though give credit to the Kings for applying constant pressure. It was sloppy from the get-go — both teams were playing hard and scrappy, but only one of them was executing at a level befitting the NBA, and it wasn’t the team that had a vested interest in winning the basketball game.

There’s no need to linger on a no good, very bad quarter. After turning the ball over just five times in the first half, the Warriors had 11 turnovers in the third quarter alone. They especially fell apart late, when it seemed like they could barely hold onto the ball, let alone dribble or pass it, and the Kings pounced. Sacramento ended the quarter on a 9-0 run, and pulled to within four points when the buzzer sounded.

The Kings finished the run in the fourth quarter, turning it into a 13-0 blitzing that tied the game, before Podziemski mercifully stopped the bleeding with a pair of free throws.

From there, the teams threw punches back and forth — not literally, thankfully, though if you’re looking for that, might I suggest watching highlights from the baseball game between the Angels and Braves. Neither team could gain any separation, and it really felt like each team was just waiting for Curry to check back into the game.

He did so at the 5:53 mark, once again accompanied by his brother and Green. This time the Warriors were down two, but Seth immediately drained a three to shift the momentum.

Still, it nearly came down to the wire. The game was tied with two minutes remaining, when Steph rose for a corner three.

It missed. You didn’t expect me to say that, did you? But he read it all the way, dashed in for his own rebound, whipped the ball back out to the perimeter, and watched Podziemski drain a three for a lead that the Warriors would not relinquish.

The Kings, who have been eliminated, then employed a fascinating strategy that felt like an attempt to skirt the NBA’s anti-tanking rules, and, for the second time in the last few possessions, purposely fouled Seth Curry, a career 86.4% free throw shooter. Both teams benefitted from this decision, as he made both free throws, pushing the lead to five with just over a minute remaining.

Golden State got a few stops against a Sacramento offense that at this point just seemed to be goofing off, and they avoided disaster with a 110-105 win.

We’re used to the stars of the game starting in the backcourt, which was the case on Tuesday. But usually that’s because Curry is starting, not coming off the bench. Instead, it was Podziemski and Melton who started and led the team in scoring. Podz had 21 points, four rebounds, and five assists, while Melton had 20 points and three assists. Curry, meanwhile, had 17 off the bench.

But the unsung hero was the new guy: Charles Bassey. With the Warriors missing their three centers, Bassey — playing in just his second game with the organization — controlled the paint any time his number was called. He finished with a sensational line — 14 points, 12 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks — but that doesn’t paint the picture as to how huge his contributions were. For a deeply undersized team, he made the Warriors feel big. And against a Sacramento squad that had the athleticism advantage, Bassey helped equalize that mismatch. He’s going to be a vital player for them the rest of the way.

The Warriors improved to 37-42, and have just three regular season games remaining. The next one is Thursday night, when they host the banged up Los Angeles Lakers at 7:00 p.m. PT.

The Dallas Mavericks got run off the floor Tuesday night, falling 116-103 to the Los Angeles Clippers in a game that followed a familiar script from this stretch of the season. Dallas struggled offensively all night, shooting just 35.0% from the field and 6-of-33 from three (18.2%), making it nearly impossible to keep up despite getting to the line frequently. Marvin Bagley III was a clear bright spot, finishing with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting and 9 rebounds, while Cooper Flagg added 21 points and 9 boards, though it came on a heavy 25-shot workload. Klay Thompson struggled again, going 4-for-17 from the field and 1-for-10 from three, as the Mavericks never found consistent perimeter shooting. On the other side, the Clippers were more efficient and balanced, shooting 44.6% from the field and 37.8% from three, with multiple contributors keeping the offense steady throughout. Dallas hung around for stretches but never truly threatened down the stretch, as another tough shooting night and lack of consistent offense ultimately defined a loss that felt in line with where this team currently is.

Dallas got hit right away in the first quarter, and it completely dictated the flow of the period. The Clippers opened on a 17-0 run, fueled by Darius Garland’s making, Kawhi Leonard’s getting control, and easy interior looks, while the Mavericks couldn’t get anything clean offensively. Early possessions were rough, with missed threes, a blocked Flagg layup, and multiple stalled trips that never put pressure on the defense. Cooper Flagg was eventually the one who broke the drought, scoring on a floater and then adding a step-back three, free throws, and an alley-oop dunk to give Dallas some life. Marvin Bagley chipped in with a couple of finishes inside, but every time Dallas showed signs of momentum, the Clippers immediately answered with another efficient possession. They closed the quarter down 39-26, a stretch defined by a brutal start and an offense that took far too long to find any rhythm.

The second quarter had a few brief moments where it felt like Dallas might settle in, but it never fully came together. The Mavericks opened with some life as Naji Marshall finished inside and Cooper Flagg hit a pull-up. Still, the Clippers quickly responded through Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland, continuing to generate cleaner looks. Midway through the quarter, the offense stalled out, with Flagg having multiple attempts blocked and missing floaters, which killed any rhythm. Dallas got a small push from Marvin Bagley with a three, a dunk, and free throws, but second-chance points and trips to the line from LA immediately erased all momentum. Missed threes and empty possessions kept resetting any progress, and by halftime the Clippers held a 65-55 lead, a quarter where Dallas hung around but never took control.

The third quarter was Dallas’ stretch, as they finally found some rhythm and made a real push to get back into the game. It started with Cooper Flagg getting downhill and to the line, while also setting up Marvin Bagley for easy finishes, helping chip away at the deficit. Bagley provided consistent scoring inside, and Ryan Nembhard and Klay Thompson added timely buckets, allowing Dallas to pull even briefly. But every time the Mavericks got close, Kawhi Leonard answered, knocking down multiple threes and tough midrange shots to keep the Clippers in control. Dallas had chances to take the lead, but missed shots and second-chance opportunities for LA stalled momentum. By the end of the quarter, despite the push, Dallas still trailed 89-84, a much closer game but one that remained just out of reach.

The fourth quarter never really gave Dallas a real opening, and it slowly slipped away possession by possession. The Clippers opened with a Darius Garland layup, and even when Cooper Flagg answered with a dunk, and Ryan Nembhard added a layup, Dallas couldn’t actually close the gap. After cutting it to 90-95, the game turned, as the Clippers responded with Garland scoring, second-chance points from John Collins, and free throws from Bennedict Mathurin, quickly pushing the lead back out. From there, the MavericMavericks stalled again with missed threes, a shot clock violation, and multiple blocked attempts, while LA kept adding efficient looks to stretch it into double digits. By the final minutes, it shifted into end-of-rotation basketball, with Klay Thompson adding some late buckets and free throws, but nothing that threatened the result. Dallas never seriously pushed back, and the Clippers closed it out comfortably, 116-103.

Tough Watch for Klay

There was something genuinely sad about watching Klay Thompson out there late in this one, especially surrounded by a lineup that clearly reflects where this team is right now. He finished just 4-for-17 from the field and 1-for-10 from three, and a lot of those looks felt forced or rushed, not because he was playing poorly in a vacuum, but because the situation around him isn’t conducive to his success anymore. When you’re a player like Klay, tasked with creating or stabilizing offense on a tanking roster, it just highlights how out of place it all feels.

And to his credit, he’s been sothing but a pro through all of it. He shows up, takes the shots, plays his role, and doesn’t care about anything other than helping the team. But at a certain point, it’s on its Mavericks to recognize what this is. His value isn’t going to go up by playing in games like this, and the longer this goes on, the more it risks fading altogether.

There’s an argument that Dallas should do right by him. Find him a situation where he can contribute to meaningful basketball again, where his skillset actually fits the context. He’s eaHe’s that. And honestly, it would benefit both sides. Because watching him grind through nights like this, at this stage, doesn’t feel like how it should end.

We are Ready for a New Season

At this point, it’s a little relief to feel that the season is winding down. Nights like this are the perfect example of why. You’re going to have a depleted roster go up against another pretty mediocre team in a half-empty arena, and the game itself turns into a grind filled with stoppages, including 45 combined free throws through three quarters. It’s no, it’s losing, it’s what these games feel. Slow, disjointed, and honestly exhausting to sit through.

There’s a sweet element to it, though. On the one hand, it’s been a long season, and a break from this version of the Mavericks feels necessary. On the other hand, you know what’s next is actually exciting. The draft, the offseason, the potential reshaping of the roster. That’s the real intrigue now. Because while there are still flashes and individual performances worth watching, nights like this are a reminder that this team, as currently constructed, isn’t a product right now. And after stretches like this, it’s a hit to be ready to move on to what’s next.

Bagley continues to make his case.

Marvin Bagley III continues to quietly make a real case for himself, even in a season where the bigger picture is about losing and positioning. He finished with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting (72.7%), adding 9 rebounds and a perfect 4-of-4 from the line, and it never felt forced. He just competed. Every possession, every touch, every opportunity to impact the game, he was there. And that’s consistent since he got to Dallas, even while dealing with injuries along the way.

What stands out most is how natural his fit has been alongside Cooper Flagg. He runs the floor, finishes at the rim, and gives Flagg a reliable interior presence to play off of, whether it’s lob dump-offs or second-chance opportunities. For a team that has struggled to find consistency in the frontcourt all season, that kind of stability matters more than it might seem on the surface.

The Mavericks will have to reevaluate their frontcourt this offseason seriously. That’s that. Bagley might not be a guaranteed piece moving forward, but he’s absolutely earned the right to be in that conversation. When you’re researching who competes, who produces, and who fits next to your cornerstone player, his name should come up just as much as anyone else.

Kate Hudson and Brenda Song sat courtside on Tuesday night to support the shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. 

Seated alongside their “Running Point” castmates Scott MacArthur and Drew Tarver, the group cheered on a Lakers team stripped down to its bones without LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Marcus Smart. 

They also got to watch the reigning NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder, led by MVP Shai Gilegous-Alexander boat race the Lake Show for the second time in five days. 

Kate Hudson and the cast of running point is here tonight for Thunder vs. Lakers pic.twitter.com/xsENf986c5

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) April 8, 2026

Hudson, radiant as ever, stopped to greet the Laker Girls and offered congratulations to the UCLA Bruins women’s basketball team, honored during a timeout in the first half for winning the 2026 NCAA National Championship on Sunday. 

The cast’s appearance wasn’t a coincidence. Season 2 of their Netflix series “Running Point” is set to premiere April 23. The show is inspired by the life and leadership of former Lakers owner, and current governor Jeanie Buss.

Elsewhere along the baseline, familiar faces filled out the frame: Former Lakers Danny Green and Pau Gasol. Reality personality Corey Gamble, and musician Giveon. A reminder that even in a shorthanded game, Los Angeles never lacks star power.

Former Lakers Danny Green and Pau Gasol also in attendance tonight for Thunder and Lakers. pic.twitter.com/UqUto5Bcrr

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) April 8, 2026

Giveon sitting courtside at Thunder vs. Lakers tonight! pic.twitter.com/FG3B5hbgpX

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) April 8, 2026

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Considering who wasn’t available for the Lakers on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, it wasn’t a surprise that they were blown out 123-87 by the Thunder for their second loss to the defending champions in five days.

But their spirited start despite Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Marcus Smart and Jaxson Hayes being available offered a glimmer of hope. 

Two-way center Drew Timme couldn’t miss early. 

Luke Kennard was once again leading the Lakers’ offense has a playmaker. 

Rookie forward Adou Thiero’s athleticism was popping.

And somehow, the Lakers found themselves tied with the league-best Thunder at 42 apiece midway through the second quarter.

But that hope quickly evaporated, with the Thunder taking full control of the game.

The Lakers scored just 22 points over the next 24 minutes of playing time en route to the 36-point blowout loss. 

Their scoring total was their lowest in a game this season. 

Rui Hachimura, one of four Lakers who were getting rotation minutes a week ago who was available on Tuesday, led the short-handed Lakers with 15 points. 

Timme had 11 points. Kennard finished with 10 points and 9 assists, while Thiero had a career-high 10 points in the most playing time he’s had in an NBA game (21 minutes).

What it means

The Lakers are in the midst of their first three-game losing streak since Feb. 22-26.

They stayed at No. 4 in the Western Conference standings with a 50-29 record, now a game behind the Nuggets (51-28) with three games left in the regular season.

Turning point

It should’ve been much earlier in the game considering who wasn’t available for the Lakers.

But when Jake LaRavia missed a pair of free throws late in the second quarter, with the Lakers already trailing, 60-46, and Isaiah Joe made a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to put the Thunder up by 17, it was clear if it wasn’t already that Tuesday wasn’t going to be the Lakers’ night. 

MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The reigning league MVP didn’t have any troubles against the depleted Lakers.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a game-high 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting to go with 8 assists in 28 minutes, sitting out of the fourth with the Thunder leading 93-62 going into the final quarter.

Stat of the game: 17

That’s how many free throws the Lakers missed, making an already difficult game even more challenging than it needed to be.

The Lakers’ 45.2% free-throw percentage on Tuesday was by far their worst mark for a game this season.

Their previous worst free-throw percentage accuracy was the 57.1% they shot from the charity stripe in the Jan. 9 home loss to the Bucks.

Up next

The Lakers will travel to San Francisco to play the Warriors on Thursday at Chase Center.

The matchup against the Warriors will be the first night of a back-to-back, with the Lakers hosting the Suns on Friday. 

A heavily depleted Lakers team was once again blown out on Tuesday by the Oklahoma City Thunder, 123-87.

LA was down Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Marcus Smart and Jaxson Hayes. Despite that, they started the game with a bunch of energy and effort, keeping the game close for the first quarter-and-a-half.

However, water eventually found its level and the Thunder blew the game open late in the second quarter and never looked back.

LA shot an abysmal 14-31 from the free throw line, negating much of the early effort plays to get to the line. LA never led and trailed by as many as 41.

The Thunder jumped to a quick six-point lead on the shoulders of Chet Holmgren. Drew Timme got the offense going for the Lakers with a midrange floater. After Holmgren put up his fifth and sixth points, LA called an early timeout.

Timme was up to 10 points already for the Lakers, leading the team. At the five-minute mark, OKC was only up by one. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was leading the Thunder with seven points. LA was putting up a respectable fight, keeping the game close. 

At the end of the first, the purple and gold were down by seven. 

With 10 points from Drew Timme and 4 assists from Luke Kennard filling in tonight for injured starters, the Lakers hung in with OKC in the 1st Q, and head into the 2nd Q down 34-27.

Adou Thiero added 5 points and 2 boards off the bench.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) April 8, 2026

There was a quick Lakers timeout called to start the second period. Out of the break, Bronny James missed his shot attempt, but stole the ball on the other end, leading to a layup by Rui Hachimura, sparking a 9-2 run that tied the game. 

OKC jumped back ahead until four straight points from Los Angeles tied it again. Luke Kennard was up to six points.

Alex Caruso drained a 3-pointer to put his team back in the lead. The Thunder turned that triple into a 7-0 scoring run. 

Los Angeles’s offense became stagnant, allowing OKC to continue to build on its now big lead. At halftime, Oklahoma was up by 18. 

OKC finished the second quarter strong and now lead 65-47 entering halftime. Drew Timme is the only Laker in double figures. He has 11 points.

— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) April 8, 2026

Kennard threw up a lob to Hachimura for a dunk to start the second half, his ninth assist of the game. He also converted on a midrange jumper, giving the team some much-needed life. 

Holmgren knocked down a triple to stop LA’s sudden small burst of momentum.

LA, unfortunately, went on a four-minute scoring drought with the Thunder taking full advantage of it to fully blow the game open. The only other exciting things that happened for LA in this quarter were dunks by Thiero and Bronny James. 

Thunder 93, Lakers 62 after three quarters of play. Fans are leaving as if the game is officially over.

— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) April 8, 2026

The final frame began with the Lakers missing a few shot attempts and Aaron Wiggins draining a triple for the Thunder. The rest of the quarter happened. 

Key Player Stats

Timme finished with 11 points, three rebounds and two assists. Hachimura notched 15 points with five rebounds. Kennard ended with 10 points and nine assists. Adou Thiero and Kobe Bufkin combined for 19 points off the bench.

Nick Smith poured in 11 points in garbage time.

The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday at 7:00 PM PT.

You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.