LeBron James Reacts to Lakers Being on Verge of Elimination After Game 3 Loss vs. Thunder
LeBron James says it will take "everything and more" for the Los Angeles Lakers to win a playoff game against the 2025-26 Oklahoma City Thunder.
Both James and coach JJ Redick said they're turning their attention toward Game 4 after a a 131-108 Saturday loss that left the Lakers in an 0-3 second-round series deficit against the defending NBA champions.
"I'm not angry or disappointed. Obviously, you're disappointed in... being down 3-0, but we've still got life, and that's all you can ask for," James said Saturday. "We've got to be much better on Monday, see what happens."
Lakers coach JJ Redick meanwhile told reporters: "I'm not giving up on this series. We're going to go try to win on Monday, we're going to try to extend this series, and we're going to try to take this thing back to OKC."
The Thunder finished the game having shot 56 percent from the field while outscoring the Lakers in the paint by 64 to 44 points.
James was asked after the game if Gilgeous-Alexander's squad could be compared to some of the NBA's all-time great teams, including the 1990's Chicago Bulls of the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors.
"They're pretty damn good from top to bottom," James answered. "They don't let their foot off the gas."
The Thunder's sustained effort was particularly visible in the third quarter, during which the Lakers were outscored 33-20 as Austin Reaves was held off the scoreboard entirely.
James finished the game with 19 points, while Reaves contributed 17 as neither were able to cover for the injury absence of regular-season leading scorer Luka Dončić.
The Lakers will now be playing with their season on the line when Game 4 tips off in Los Angeles on Monday night at 10:30 p.m. ET. Finding a way to keep pace with the Thunder in the second half of Game 4 will be key to the Lakers' hopes of sending the series back to Oklahoma City for Game 5 on Wednesday.
