The Lakers’ Western Conference second-round series against the Thunder came to a heartbreaking conclusion, with Los Angeles hoping to avoid a sweep and salvage some dignity on their home court. Despite a valiant effort, superior perimeter defense by the defending champions, and favorable officiating, the Lakers fell short 110-115. For the first time in the series, they held a lead entering the fourth quarter and even maintained a slim advantage with 40 seconds left, only to see it slip away. As the final buzzer sounded, a dejected Austin Reaves looked on helplessly, while head coach J.J. Redick broke down in tears during his postgame interview—the Lakers’ season was officially over.
Redick’s decision-making in the crucial final moments drew sharp criticism, making his emotional outburst even more questionable. Rui Hachimura had been on a remarkable streak, shooting over 50% from three-point range in 15 consecutive games from the regular season’s final stretch into the playoffs, establishing himself as the team’s most reliable floor spacer. In Game 4, Hachimura played a team-high 43 minutes and 11 seconds, keeping the Lakers afloat with a series of clutch jumpers. He finished 9-of-15 from the field, including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, delivering an efficient 25 points, five rebounds, and two assists.
As the Thunder tried to pull away in crunch time, it was Hachimura’s extraordinary 3-plus-1 play that kept the Lakers’ hopes alive for a tie or even a lead. Yet, in the game’s final possession, Redick opted to bench his most reliable threat, replacing Hachimura with Maxi Kleber, who had played just one minute in the entire series, to set a screen for Reaves. The result was a missed three-pointer by Reaves, dashing all the Lakers’ hard-fought efforts.
Redick’s bewildering substitution drew comparisons to a poor imitation of Phil Jackson’s famous gambles, but without the underlying logic. Taking Hachimura out effectively handed the Thunder an easier defensive matchup, reducing the pressure on their perimeter defense and ultimately costing Los Angeles the game.
In the aftermath, three key Lakers players addressed their futures. Hachimura, who significantly boosted his value during this postseason, stated, “I love this team and appreciate everything they’ve done for me. But at the end of the day, I’m not the one doing the negotiating.” He made it clear that while he enjoys being in Los Angeles, his future depends on what his agent negotiates.
Reaves appeared visibly shaken, chewing on his jersey as he expressed his disappointment. He shared that LeBron James had encouraged him after the missed shot, telling him, “That was a great shot. Keep your head up.” Reaves added that he feels honored to play for the Lakers but hasn’t yet thought about his own future.
LeBron James, who averaged 23.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists in this postseason and was instrumental in the Lakers’ first-round upset of the Rockets, addressed retirement rumors. “I never said I was retiring,” James said. “I’ll talk to my family, spend time with them, and when the time comes to make a decision, everyone will know.” Whether this was his final game or whether fans will see him share the court with his son Bronny remains to be seen.
