Lots of Baby Lakers have come and gone throughout the years with fans able to cheer them along from afar. But something about Alex Caruso is different.
It likely comes down to the fact that it was a self-inflicted mistake that led to him leaving the Lakers, but it just has a different feeling. It’s still painful to see him in a different jersey. I could be alone in that feeling, but watching him lead the Thunder in the second half and fourth quarter felt like a particularly fresh wound being reopened by a jagged, rusty knife.
Just a lot of pain.
Even despite his performance and the strong close from Jalen Williams, the Lakers were in this game. Moral victories don’t account for much, but considering how bad things went in the last meeting between these two teams, it’s encouraging to see the gap closed.
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.
LeBron James
36 minutes, 22 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 1 foul, 9-17 FG, 0-4 3PT, 4-6 FT, -7
The bully ball LeBron played in the second half, specifically the third quarter, was a big catalyst in the Lakers’ comeback. He was picking on defenders, getting them switched onto him and then putting them in the rim or kicking otu to open looks.
That the Lakers couldn’t get back to that in the fourth was a problem.
Grade: B+
Rui Hachimura
33 minutes, 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 5-8 FG, 2-5 3PT, +4
Some really big buckets from Rui down the stretch with both of them coming at the rim, a place he doesn’t typically venture toward.
Grade: B+
Deandre Ayton
29 minutes, 6 points, 10 rebounds, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, 3-5 FG, 0-3 FT, -5
For the most part, I thought this was as good a game as Ayton has played in some time. And yet, he still didn’t close the game, which is pretty telling.
Grade: C+
Jake LaRavia
24 minutes, 14 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, 3-8 FG, 2-6 3PT, 6-6 FT, -9
LaRavia played a huge role in the third quarter alongside LeBron. However, his night is probably going to be remembered for the multiple missed open threes in the fourth.
Grade: B
Marcus Smart
29 minutes, 19 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 7-16 FG, 4-7 3PT, 1-2 FT, -4
This was just a little bit too much Marcus Smart. You probably don’t want him finishing with the second-most shot attempts in a game, even if he was largely good on the night.
Grade: B+
Austin Reaves
29 minutes, 16 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 5 turnovers, 3 fouls, 6-14 FG, 1-5 3PT, 3-3 FT, -14
Reaves really struggled against the defensive pressure at times against OKC. He also seemed to be the chosen victim of a number of missed calls, leading to a totally valid crashout and technical foul early in the game.
It must be nice to be a Thunder fan as you get to watch your team play rugby while everyone else plays basketball. Yes, I’m a little salty.
Grade: B–
Luke Kennard
24 minutes, 7 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 4 fouls, 3-5 FG, 1-2 3PT, -7
You saw the good that Kennard brings in his debut, but you saw the bad he can bring in this one. When he was in the game, OKC was targeting him repeatedly, especially down the stretch. He competed hard, but the size discrepancy is just too large.
Grade: B
Jarred Vanderbilt
17 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, 1-3 FG, 0-2 3PT, +9
Not Vando’s best game. He struggled to make much of an impact on either end of the floor.
Grade: C
Jaxson Hayes
14 minutes, 12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 5-8 FG, 2-3 FT, -4
Hayes had a couple of nice finishes around the rim. I suppose we should just be used to four rebounds in 14 minutes for a seven-footer, even if it still feels low.
Grade: B
Maxi Kleber
A very short cameo for Kleber, who did not have the foot speed to hang with the Thunder in this one.
JJ Redick
This is one of those nights where it’s hard to determine who to blame for the Lakers not getting LeBron the ball down the stretch. I lean toward the players as they were running some of the actions, then trhowing some pretty brutal passes or not getting him the ball at all.
Redick won both challenges, but they were both very easy challenges to win. Thanks, officials.
Grade: B
Monday’s DNPs: Kobe Bufkin, Bronny James, Dalton Knecht
Monday’s inactives: Luka Dončić, Drew Timme, Nick Smith Jr., Adou Thiero, Chris Mañon
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
