Lakers drop Game 3 to Thunder; now one loss from elimination

Lakers guard Austin Reaves, center, tries to block a layup by Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left, during Game 3 of their playoff series on Saturday night at Crypto,com Arena. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) The Lakers are one playoff defeat from their season being over and from the conversation turning to LeBron James ’ future. They are in a hole no team has climbed out of in the history of the NBA, the Lakers’ 131-108 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 putting L.

A. down 3-0 in the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series. James and his teammates gave a gallant effort Saturday night at Crypto.

com Arena, but the defending champion proved to be more than the Lakers could handle. James finished his night with 19 points on seven-for-19 shooting, eight assists and six rebounds. Rui Hachimura had 21 points and Austin Reaves finished with 17 points and nine assists.

Even so, the Lakers have now lost all three games by double digits. And the Lakers are fully aware that no NBA team has successfully come back from a 3-0 deficit in the playoffs, with those teams holding a 161-0 record. Only four teams have forced a Game 7 after trailing 3-0, all of which ultimately lost the series, including the Boston Celtics in 2023.