Luke Kennard Says Lakers Must Match Thunder's Physical Play In Series

The Los Angeles Lakers showed brief signs of offensive improvement in Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the result remained the same. Oklahoma City secured a convincing 125-107 victory Thursday night at Paycom Center, extending its lead to 2-0 in the Western Conference semifinal series and continuing its recent dominance over Los Angeles.

One of the few positive developments for the Lakers came from guard Luke Kennard, who finally broke out of a difficult shooting slump. After several inconsistent performances over the past week, Kennard provided efficient scoring off the bench and helped stabilize portions of the Lakers’ offense during stretches of the game.

Still, Kennard acknowledged afterward that offensive production alone will not be enough for Los Angeles to change the direction of the series. According to the veteran guard, the Lakers have struggled to match Oklahoma City’s physicality, particularly on defense where the Thunder continue to dictate tempo and create open opportunities for multiple players.

The Thunder’s balanced attack once again proved difficult to contain in Game 2. While the Lakers focused heavily on slowing down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City repeatedly found scoring contributions from across the roster. As the series now shifts to Los Angeles, the Lakers understand that both their defensive intensity and overall toughness must improve quickly.

1. Kennard Finds Rhythm At Important Time

Coming into Game 2, Kennard had been enduring one of the coldest stretches of his postseason run. Over his previous five games, the Lakers guard shot just 9-for-34 from the field and struggled significantly from beyond the three-point line, converting only three of his 16 attempts from deep. Those shooting difficulties raised concerns about his offensive role, especially considering how important perimeter scoring becomes during playoff basketball. The Lakers rely heavily on floor spacing around their primary stars, making efficient bench production a critical part of the team’s offensive structure. Despite dealing with neck soreness that left him questionable before the game, Kennard responded with one of his most efficient performances in weeks. He scored 10 points in 26 minutes while shooting 4-of-5 from the field and 2-of-3 from three-point range. His shooting helped provide energy for a Lakers team searching for offensive consistency. Although Kennard’s improved performance offered some encouragement, it was not enough to shift momentum against a Thunder team that remained in control for most of the second half. The Lakers continued struggling defensively, especially when Oklahoma City moved the ball effectively against double teams and defensive rotations.

2. Thunder Continue To Punish Lakers Defensively

Following the loss, Kennard pointed directly to physicality as one of the biggest differences between the two teams. He explained that Los Angeles has often committed extra defenders to Gilgeous-Alexander, but in doing so has allowed Oklahoma City’s supporting players to generate clean scoring opportunities. The strategy reflects the difficult challenge the Thunder present offensively. Gilgeous-Alexander consistently draws defensive attention because of his ability to create shots and attack the paint. However, Oklahoma City has surrounded him with versatile scorers capable of capitalizing when defenses collapse. Kennard emphasized that the Lakers need to defend with more aggression and discipline, particularly during the minutes when Gilgeous-Alexander is off the floor. Instead of relaxing defensively, Los Angeles must find ways to disrupt the Thunder’s supporting cast and prevent secondary scoring runs from developing. That task has proven difficult throughout the series. In Game 2, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 22 points on only 13 shot attempts while remaining highly efficient despite constant defensive pressure. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault praised his star guard afterward for handling double teams effectively and making the correct decisions under pressure.

3. Oklahoma City’s Depth Creates Growing Concern

Beyond Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City once again received major contributions from several players across the lineup. Chet Holmgren delivered another strong performance with 22 points on efficient shooting while continuing to impact the game defensively with his length and mobility. The Thunder bench also played a significant role in extending the lead. Ajay Mitchell contributed 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting, while Jared McCain added 18 points in an energetic reserve performance. Oklahoma City’s ability to receive production from multiple sources has placed enormous pressure on the Lakers’ defense through the first two games. Meanwhile, Los Angeles continues searching for answers after now losing six consecutive games to the Thunder dating back to the regular season. The repeated losses suggest that Oklahoma City’s combination of speed, physicality, and balanced scoring has become a particularly difficult matchup for the Lakers to solve. The series now moves to Crypto.com Arena for Game 3, where the Lakers face mounting urgency. Falling behind 3-0 would leave little realistic hope for a comeback, making Saturday’s game one of the most important moments of their season. Players like Kennard understand that improved shooting alone will not be enough unless the Lakers can also raise their defensive intensity and physical approach.