After the Los Angeles Lakers' 112-100 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on May 9, 2026, analyst and former NBA player JJ Redick highlighted a recurring issue: second-half collapses. The Lakers led by 8 points at halftime but were outscored 62-42 in the second half, marking the third consecutive game where they lost a double-digit lead.
Redick, speaking on his podcast, noted that the Lakers' inability to maintain defensive intensity after halftime has been a consistent problem throughout the series. 'They're close, but that third quarter is killing them,' he said. Data from the series shows the Lakers have been outscored by an average of 15 points in the third quarter across the three games.
The Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 33 points and 8 assists, capitalized on the Lakers' defensive lapses. Los Angeles shot just 38% in the second half, while Oklahoma City shot 52%. The Lakers now trail 3-0 in the series, with Game 4 scheduled for May 11 in Oklahoma City.
