The Thunder have owned the Lakers. But the Lakers still have LeBron James

The Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t just beat the Los Angeles Lakers this season — they dominated them. Now comes the part that has to matter.The reigning champion Thunder enter the second round as the standard in the Western Conference, backed by a league-best regular-season record of 64-18 and a first-round sweep that only reinforced their edge. The Lakers arrive in a slightly different place. They handled the Rockets in six games, but not without cracks. There was uneven shot-making, turnover issues and a roster still adjusting to life without Luka Dončić. There’s enough shot-making to stay competitive, especially with LeBron James and Austin Reaves now back, but far less certainty about how it holds up over the series.Advertisement