JJ Redick provided a blunt, statistics-heavy evaluation 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 defeat left Los Angeles trailing 0-3 in the series, as Oklahoma City extended its perfect postseason record to 7-0 and controlled most of the matchup.
Redick repeatedly pointed to systemic issues rather than isolated errors, beginning with the Thunder’s depth. “Again, it’s a strength of their team,” he said when asked about second-half momentum shifts throughout the series.
Ball security remained a major frustration. “We lowered the number, but they still scored 30 points off those turnovers,” Redick explained. “I think we had five of them in the third. All of them actually led to fast break transition baskets.”
He also highlighted 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 defensive breakdowns to rhythm offense for the Thunder.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again anchored Oklahoma City’s efficiency, while the Lakers struggled to handle transition pressure and half-court spacing issues that Redick detailed in his press conference.
Despite the growing deficit, Redick rejected any notion that his earlier comments about officiating had affected 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 challenge of facing a team that adapts quickly. “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 from building consistent counters. “This team, because of their personnel, can just adjust like that,” Redick said.
Even with the series slipping further away, Redick insisted the Lakers’ competitive spirit remained intact. “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 stressing 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 dominated 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.”
