JJ Redick offered a direct and data-heavy assessment after the Los Angeles Lakers fell 131-108 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals at Crypto.com Arena.
The loss pushed Los Angeles into a 0-3 series deficit, with Oklahoma City extending its unbeaten postseason run to 7-0 and maintaining control throughout large stretches of the series.
Redick repeatedly pointed to structural issues rather than isolated mistakes, starting with Oklahoma City’s depth. “Again, it’s a strength of their team,” he said, when asked about second-half swings across the series.
The Lakers’ inability to protect the ball remained central to his frustration. “We lowered the number, but they still scored 30 points off those turnovers,” Redick said. “I think we had five of them in the third. All of them actually led to fast break transition baskets.”
He also referenced Oklahoma City’s shooting surge as the game slipped away. “At one point they were 11 of 17 from three in the second half,” Redick noted, linking the defensive breakdowns directly to rhythm offense for the Thunder.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander again anchored Oklahoma City’s efficiency, while the Lakers struggled to contain transition pressure and half-court spacing collapses that Redick highlighted throughout his press conference.
Despite the growing deficit, Redick rejected any suggestion that his previous comments about officiating influenced focus or performance. “No, I mean again I said after the game we didn’t lose that game because of the officiating,” he said. “Just pointing out some discrepancies, that’s all.”
The Lakers coach also acknowledged the broader challenge of facing a team that adapts instantly. “They need shooting on the floor, great. They need multiple wing defenders on the floor, great. They need two bigs on the floor, great,” Redick said. “It’s just a terrific basketball team.”
He added that Oklahoma City’s ability to adjust mid-possession or between games has limited Los Angeles’ ability to build consistent counters. “This team, because of their personnel, can just adjust like that,” Redick said.
Even with the series slipping further out of reach, Redick insisted the Lakers’ competitive spirit had not disappeared. “We’re right there after two and a half quarters. We tried different lineups, tried different coverages,” he said. “But I’m not giving up on the series and we’re going to go try to win on Monday.”
That belief in continued effort was echoed when he addressed the locker room mindset. “Not yet. No, I’m sorry… Oh, yeah. For sure [the players have a fight]. For sure,” Redick said, confirming the group’s response despite the 0-3 deficit.
The Lakers now face elimination pressure heading into Game 4, with Redick emphasizing urgency over adjustments. “We’ve got to be better,” he said. “We’re going to try to extend the series and try to take this thing back to OKC.”
Across three games, Oklahoma City has controlled key stretches with defensive pressure and scoring bursts, while Los Angeles has struggled to sustain execution beyond early quarters.
Redick’s final message was clear and consistent with his analytical tone throughout the series: “Still think we can beat them.”