LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers’ three-game winning streak ended with a 119-110 defeat against the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night, even as the Thunder were without their star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Lakers stayed competitive through most of the game, but from analyst JJ Redick’s perspective, the team failed to involve LeBron James enough during crucial moments in the fourth quarter.
Redick Criticizes Lakers for Not Feeding LeBron in Key Situations
After the game, Redick pointed out that James had been exploiting the Thunder’s smaller defenders effectively while directing the offense but was not given sufficient opportunities with the ball late in the contest. According to Redick, this lack of ball movement to LeBron contributed to the Lakers falling behind down the stretch.
I didn’t think we did a good job of getting LeBron the ball,
Redick said.
Some of that was we called plays and we didn’t execute, some of that was just not having the recognition. Him playing against smaller players was how we got back in the game, and we didn’t do a good job of getting him the ball. It’s frustrating.
LeBron’s Stat Line Highlights His Effort Amid Lakers’ Struggles
In the defeat, LeBron James led the team with 22 points, six rebounds, 10 assists, and one steal over 36 minutes on the floor. He connected on nine of 17 field goal attempts and made four of six free throws but missed all four of his three-point shots. James demonstrated aggression from the start and made highlight plays, including two dunks over Chet Holmgren.
Despite James’ strong individual performance, the Lakers couldn’t maintain momentum throughout the game, a shortcoming James attributed to the team’s inability to sustain effort for the full 48 minutes against top competition.
LeBron’s Season and Ongoing Contributions to the Lakers
This year marks LeBron’s 23rd NBA season, a milestone highlighted by his selection to the All-Star team for the 22nd consecutive time. Through 34 games, he’s averaging 21.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per outing, with shooting percentages of 50.1 percent from the field, 31.4 percent from beyond the arc, and 74.5 percent from the free-throw line. James typically logs just over 33 minutes per game.
Upcoming Matches and Uncertain Lakers Lineup
The Lakers are set to play the San Antonio Spurs in the second night of a back-to-back series, with player availability yet to be confirmed. James has participated in multiple back-to-back games this season after previously sitting out the second game of such stretches. How the team adjusts moving forward will be critical in their quest for stability and success.
LeBron on comparing the Lakers to the Thunder:
“That's a championship team right there, and we're not. We can't sustain energy and effort for 48 minutes, and they can. That's why they won a championship.” 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/KiIbXJpITh
— Witness King James (@WITNESSKJ) February 10, 2026
