Short-handed Lakers blown out again by Thunder, on verge of falling to 5th place in West
The Lakers faced the Thunder without Luka Dončić, LeBron James or Austin Reaves. It didn't go well.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ indignity was predictable on Tuesday, but that doesn’t mean it counts any less in the standings. The Lakers faced the NBA’s top team, the Oklahoma City Thunder while missing Luka Dončić ( out for the rest of the regular season with a hamstring strain ), LeBron James ( out Tuesday with a foot injury ), Austin Reaves ( out for the rest of the regular season with an oblique strain ), Marcus Smart (out since March 21 with an ankle injury) and Jaxson Hayes (out Tuesday with foot soreness). That’s four starters and a rotation big man, against a team that beat them by 43 points last week .
This time, the Thunder beat them 123-87, handing L. A. its third straight loss after a stretch in which it won 13 of 14 games.
On the bright side, Bronny James had a nice dunk on his way to four points on 2-of-9 shooting. BRONNY JAMES RISE UP EFFORTLESS SLAM. 🔥 pic.
twitter. com/AbsISvYLFb — Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 8, 2026 With their top players out, Rui Hachimura led the team in scoring with 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting. DeAndre Ayton, the Lakers’ lone remaining starter from their regular unit in the previous few months, posted only three points on 1-of-4 shooting and three rebounds in 23 minutes.