LeBron James, Austin Reaves Send Blunt Message After Lakers’ Ugly Loss to OKC

The Los Angeles Lakers were ambushed by the Oklahoma City Thunder from the word “go” last night. 

It was ugly from start to finish. The Thunder came out with the intensity and spirit of a playoff game. The Lakers, meanwhile, would have one convinced it was a preseason exhibition. 

Last night’s 43-point nightmare quite easily marked L.A.’s worse loss all season — in multiple seasons actually. 

With less than two weeks to go in the regular season and gathering momentum paramount, losing big was the last thing Los Angeles wanted. And to add to matters, the team fears for star point guard Luka Doncic, who went out with a hamstring injury in the third quarter. 

Suddenly, it feels like the world is falling for Lakers fans. 

Los Angeles Lakers stars react to drubbing in Oklahoma City

There was so much said entering this contest.

The first seed vs. third seed. MVP candidate vs MVP candidate. Streaking team vs. streaking team. 

Then, the game started. And then Thunder made the world forget it ever tried comparing anyone to them. That was a championship-level effort Oklahoma City displayed from jump. 

After a loss that bad, there is no beating around the bush. Everyone, starting with the team’s stars, echoed each other when asked about the embarrassing loss. 

“We understand and know what they’re capable of,” LeBron James expressed after the game, “and they beat the s— out of us tonight from the start.”

Said Lakers guard Austin Reaves: “They beat the s— out of us, but they’re the defending champs. We’ve gotta be better, I don’t know. Losing always sucks, no matter if you lose by one or 50. A loss is a loss. It’s kind of how I look at it.”

James asserts his team will bounce back after 43-point defeat

When asked if the loss changes anything for the Lakers, James cut to the chase. 

“No, nothing’s changed,” he said sternly. “We still will be [together]. Obviously [we will be tested], with our head of the snake [going down]. Don’t want to make any conclusions, but we see what happens with him, and then we’ll go from there, but nothing is rattled.”

Nothing matters more for Los Angeles right now than Doncic’s health. The 27-year-old Lakers star is set to receive an MRI scan on his hamstring today. It could either reveal a major sigh of relief or tremendous concern. 

The Lakers need to win three of their remaining games to hold on to the coveted third seed, but if Doncic is unable to play the final stretch of the season, things could get testy fast.

It is quite possible Doncic sits out of L.A.’s next game against the lottery-destined Dallas Mavericks even if the star point guard receives a negative MRI scan. 

The team has already been without defensive ace Marcus Smart — who has been battling right ankle contusion — the last handful of games. Losing more bodies is an absolute no-no as the Western Conference playoff race tightens. 

Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.

This article was originally published on Heavy Sports

The post LeBron James, Austin Reaves Send Blunt Message After Lakers’ Ugly Loss to OKC appeared first on Heavy Sports.