The LA Lakers suffered another rough loss against the OKC Thunder on Thursday night, losing Game 2, 125-107, to go 0-2 in the Western Conference semifinals.Â
The game, however, was marred by numerous questionable calls and non-calls that drew the ire of the Lakers, especially their head coach JJ Redick. After the game, Redick delivered a stunning statement for NBA officials regarding his star player LeBron James.Â
“LeBron [James] has the worst whistle of any star player I’ve seen,” Redick told the media after Game 2. âIâve been with him two years now. I mean, the smaller guys, they can be theatric and they typically drew more fouls. For bigger players that are built like LeBron, itâs hard for them. They get clobbered. [Lebron] got clobbered again tonight a bunch.Â
âThatâs not a new thing. Thatâs not specific to this [officiating] crew. In this series, he gets fouled a lot. He gets hit in the head more than any player Iâve seen on drives, and rarely gets called.â
James only had four free throws in Game 2’s loss. He played 38 minutes in the game, scored 23 points, and shot 9-of-18 from the field.Â
As a team, the Lakers had 21 free throws, 18 of which they made. On the other hand, the Thunder got 26 free throws and made 21 of them.Â
The Lakers were called with 26 fouls in the game, while the Thunder only committed 21.Â
The Lakers’ frustrations came as the team struggled to execute well in the second half against the Thunder, especially after constant chirping with the referees throughout the third and fourth quarters.Â
After the game, the Lakers, led by Austin Reaves, talked to NBA official John Goble to express their thoughts about the officiating in the game.
Reaves bounced back from a terrible Game 1 performance with 31 points after only having eight points in the series opener. He shot the most free throws in the game with 10, eight of which he made.Â
Aside from Goble, Ben Taylor, Mark Lindsay, and alternate Tre Maddox.Â
One Statistic May Have Doomed The Lakers Against the Thunder
GettyLakers turnovers doomed them in Game 2.
Aside from fouls and free throws, another statistic emerged as a possible difference maker for the Lakers against the Thunder.Â
In Game 2, the Lakers turned the ball over 21 times, eight more than the Thunder. OKC then scored 26 points off of them, while the Lakers only tallied 14 points off turnovers.Â
With the Thunderâs defensive activity, the team benefited from numerous live-ball turnovers, resulting in fast-break opportunities. The Thunder had 14 fast break points, compared to just four from the Lakers.Â
The win gave the Thunder their sixth win in the NBA playoffs, as no team has yet to win against them so far.Â
Lakers Now In Precarious Position Ahead of Game 3 in Los Angeles
GettyLeBron James and the Lakers are now in a precarious spot.
The LA Lakers will now head back to Los Angeles in a precarious position, as their backs are now against the wall against the Thunder.Â
The Thunder, meanwhile, carries much momentum in Los Angeles. The franchise has yet to lose a series when they are up 2-0.
Game 3 will be on Saturday, May 9, at the Crypto Arena.Â
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