Despite the key injuries they have had to deal with, the Los Angeles Lakers have gotten off to a nice start this season by winning eight of their first 11 games. But on Wednesday, they ran into a buzz saw named the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Thunder, the defending NBA champions, came in with an 11-1 record and ranked at or near the top of the league in several categories at both ends of the floor. They gave Los Angeles a reality check while reminding everyone why they're the favorites to win it all again this season.
The Lakers ended the first quarter down by 12, as they shot just 40% from the field and committed six turnovers during the period. It only got worse afterward when they went roughly eight minutes in the second quarter without hitting a single shot, allowing Oklahoma City to go up 70-38 at halftime. Nothing changed in the second half, resulting in a 121-92 blowout loss for L.A.
This was an all-around humbling for the Lakers. They shot 40.3% from the field and 31.4% from 3-point range, had only 19 assists and committed 20 turnovers while giving up 26 points off turnovers and getting outscored in the paint by 18. By the three-minute mark of the first quarter, when they fell behind by double digits, it was clear that it wouldn't be their night.
Next up for the Purple and Gold is an Emirates NBA Cup game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, followed by a matchup against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday to wrap up this five-game road trip.
Rui Hachimura: B
Hachimura didn't do too badly, as he went 5-of-11 from the field and 2-of-5 from 3-point range to score 13 points, to go along with five rebounds, two steals and one assist, in 33 minutes.
Deandre Ayton: D
The Lakers needed a lot more from Ayton in multiple categories. He took only five shots and hit three of them to score six points, and he also had five rebounds, one assist, one steal and four turnovers in 26 minutes. Defensively, he didn't provide enough resistance, whether it was defending shots at or near the rim or contesting perimeter shots by Thunder big man Chet Holmgren, and L.A. needed him to set better and harder screens.
Marcus Smart: D
Smart made all six of his free throw attempts, but that was the only thing he did well on Wednesday. He shot 1-of-5 overall and 1-of-4 from downtown and finished with nine points, one rebound and one steal. Defensively, he simply wasn't effective. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP and scoring champion, scored 30 points in just 29 minutes, and reserve guard Isaiah Joe scored 21 points in 35 minutes.
Austin Reaves: D-minus
This was the type of game where the Lakers needed a major lift from Reaves. Instead, he went 4-of-12 from the field and missed all five of his 3-point attempts while committing five turnovers. He finished with 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and one steal in 30 minutes.
Luka Doncic: D
This was an off night for Doncic. He went 7-of-20 overall, 1-of-7 from downtown and 4-of-7 from the free throw line, and he also committed four turnovers. He took plenty of tough, contested shots, but some of that was due to the lack of pace and movement in L.A.'s offense, and that is something that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
Doncic played 33 minutes and had 19 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
Jarred Vanderbilt: B-plus
Vanderbilt did a very good job on the boards with nine rebounds in 19 minutes. He also contributed six points, made a 3-pointer and chipped in two assists. Unfortunately, he was one of the few Lakers players who brought a relatively high level of energy in this game.
Jake LaRavia: D
LaRavia made just one of his six shot attempts and finished with just five points, one rebound and two assists in 22 minutes. His lack of production was emblematic of the lack of help Los Angeles got from its bench in this game.
Dalton Knecht: A
Knecht got 19 minutes on the court during garbage time, and he maximized it. He converted all but one of his seven shot attempts and five 3-point tries to score 16 points and seemed to be in a good offensive rhythm when he was in the game. He also had two rebounds and one assist.
Jaxson Hayes: D-minuc/C-plus
Hayes was in the game for 14 minutes and had minimal impact with two points and two rebounds.
Bronny James: D
In eight minutes, James went scoreless, missed all four of his shot attempts and had two assists, one rebound and one steal.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers player grades: L.A. gets destroyed by the Thunder
