Category: Sports News

Boston Celtics (54-25, second in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (51-28, third in the Eastern Conference)

New York; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: New York hosts Boston aiming to prolong its five-game home winning streak.

The Knicks are 33-16 against Eastern Conference opponents. New York ranks eighth in the Eastern Conference with 15.2 fast break points per game led by Mikal Bridges averaging 3.2.

The Celtics have gone 35-15 against Eastern Conference opponents. Boston has a 5-7 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Knicks' 14.3 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.2 more made shots on average than the 14.1 per game the Celtics allow. The Celtics are shooting 46.7% from the field, 0.8% higher than the 45.9% the Knicks' opponents have shot this season.

The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Knicks won 111-89 in the last meeting on Feb. 8. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 31 points, and Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 26 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 18.9 points over the last 10 games.

Brown is averaging 28.8 points, seven rebounds and 5.2 assists for the Celtics. Payton Pritchard is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 7-3, averaging 116.6 points, 44.6 rebounds, 28.3 assists, 8.2 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 50.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.7 points per game.

Celtics: 8-2, averaging 116.1 points, 47.7 rebounds, 24.2 assists, 5.8 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 48.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.9 points.

INJURIES: Knicks: None listed.

Celtics: None listed.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Minnesota Timberwolves (47-32, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (43-36, eighth in the Eastern Conference)

Orlando, Florida; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Magic -6; over/under is 228.5

BOTTOM LINE: Orlando looks to keep its three-game win streak alive when the Magic take on Minnesota.

The Magic are 25-16 in home games. Orlando is 17-19 in games decided by 10 points or more.

The Timberwolves are 22-17 in road games. Minnesota scores 117.6 points and has outscored opponents by 3.5 points per game.

The Magic average 115.5 points per game, 1.4 more points than the 114.1 the Timberwolves allow. The Timberwolves average 117.6 points per game, 2.4 more than the 115.2 the Magic allow.

The teams square off for the second time this season. The Magic won the last meeting 119-92 on March 7. Desmond Bane scored 30 points to help lead the Magic to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Paolo Banchero is shooting 45.9% and averaging 22.3 points for the Magic. Bane is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Julius Randle is scoring 21.1 points per game with 6.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists for the Timberwolves. Ayo Dosunmu is averaging 14.9 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 49.5% over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 5-5, averaging 115.8 points, 40.7 rebounds, 26.8 assists, 7.8 steals and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.8 points per game.

Timberwolves: 5-5, averaging 111.7 points, 44.4 rebounds, 25.6 assists, 10.0 steals and 5.9 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.6 points.

INJURIES: Magic: Jett Howard: out (ankle), Jamal Cain: day to day (calf), Jonathan Isaac: out (knee), Wendell Carter Jr.: day to day (neck).

Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards: day to day (knee), Jaden McDaniels: out (knee).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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 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. 

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. 

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. 

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.