PREVIEW: The Los Angeles Lakers face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in Round 2 of the 2025–2026 NBA playoffs , a matchup that represents a dramatic shift in circumstances for Los Angeles. After jumping out to a 3–0 lead against Houston, the Lakers advanced with a dominant Game 6 win despite playing without key personnel , but Oklahoma City enters as a 15.5-point favorite for tonight's game. While Luka Dončić remains sidelined, role players like Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard have stepped up on both ends of the floor and were instrumental contributors in the first round. The Thunder dominated the regular season series against Los Angeles, winning all four matchups by an average of 29.3 points per game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is moving differently this postseason, proving absolutely stellar against the Suns with an average of 33.8 points on 55.1 percent shooting and eight assists , and he should find similar success against a vulnerable Lakers defense. The Thunder completed a routine sweep over the Phoenix Suns, outmatching them in every area during the opening round , demonstrating the depth and two-way dominance that makes them the league's most complete team. LeBron James, at 41 years old and coming off a six-game series averaging close to 39 minutes per game, now faces a quick turnaround against the defending champions without potential support from Dončić. A lot of unusual and surprising things have already happened in this year's NBA playoffs, and if that trend continues, the Lakers could find a way to defy the odds once again.