Lakers hurting for Luka Doncic as offensive slump continues in Game 1 against Thunder

Injured Lakers star Luka Doncic reacts to a play during Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinal series in Oklahoma City on Tuesday night. (Kyle Phillips / Associated Press) The answer to the Lakers ’ slumping offense sat hunched in a chair in the corner of the visitors' locker room at Paycom Center. Luka Doncic , dressed in a black T-shirt and pants, scrolled on his phone, cornered off by a wall of reporters who all faced LeBron James looking for reasons behind a postseason dry spell.

“We have a guy that averages 37 [points] a game [out],” James said. “Thirty-three-and-a-half. … There’s the issue right there.

” Since Doncic suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain in this arena on April 2, the Lakers used heroic performances from James, suddenly hot shooting and stout defense to paper over the absence of their leading scorer. But Tuesday's 108-90 Game 1 loss against the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder showed just how much the Lakers miss Doncic. On a night they limited Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to a season-low 18 points and a season-high seven turnovers, the Lakers still never got closer than 11 points in the fourth quarter.

The reigning most valuable player scored fewer than 20 points in a game for the first time since May 24, 2025. The Lakers slugged their way through a defensive battle against the Houston Rockets in the first round, but their offense started lagging midway through the series. They’ve scored fewer than 100 points in four consecutive games, three of them losses.