The Thunder swept the four-game regular-season series against the Lakers by an average of 29.3 points.
The Lakershave an uphill battle ahead of them, to state the obvious.
Heading into the Lakers’ second-round playoff series against the Thunder, here are three key matchups to keep your eyes on:
Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning MVP. He’s likely to repeat for that honor when the winner is announced later this month. There’s no stopping him. He’s like a metronome. He’s guaranteed to score about 30 points a game.
Smart has an impossible task: trying to slow down Gilgeous-Alexander.
The good thing for the Lakers is that Smart is a former Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. He’s used to guarding opposing teams’ superstars.
In the only game Kevin Durant playedin the Lakers’ first-round series against the Rockets, Smart bottled up the greatest scorer of all time.
Durant, who struggled with a bone bruise, finished with 23 points and nine turnovers in the Lakers’ 101-94 win in Game 2. Because of Smart’s swarming defense, Durant only scored three points in the second half on 1-for-5 shooting.
Smart, who agreed to a contract buyout with the Wizards in July 2025, viewed joining the Lakers as a golden opportunity to save his career. He has since shown that he can be a lockdown defender, capable of swinging games.
For Smart, his ultimate challenge is ahead.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
