Lakers 'shot themselves in the foot' in defeat to Thunder, says Redick

Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick believes his side "shot themselves in the foot" during their 101-93 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder in an NBA Cup game on Friday.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 36 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter to lead the Thunder to victory, meaning the Lakers can not advance to the quarter-finals.

It is the fifth time in the past six games Gilgeous-Alexander has scored at least 30 points. Jalen Williams added 19 as the Thunder won their fourth straight game.

Dalton Knecht led the Lakers with 20 points and D'Angelo Russell had 17, but the Lakers' stars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, scored just 27 points combined.

The Lakers still had a chance to come back, down four with 22.4 seconds remaining, but Austin Reaves' pass was stolen by Williams, putting Oklahoma into a 99-93 lead.

It was the Lakers' 17th turnover, a total that led to 20 Thunder points, something Redick believes was crucial in the defeat.

"There were half-dozen to a dozen plays that just shot us in the foot even before the late-game stuff," Redick said.

"We played well enough and hard enough to win against the best team in the West. So there's definitely good stuff.

"That was as connected as our group has been on that end of the floor since the first game of the season.

"Just, you know, a really outstanding job with a lot of the stuff we talked about."

Final pic.twitter.com/mk6Z7RLczP

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 30, 2024

After the game, Redick also said he and the coaching staff had to do a better job of getting Davis chances to score despite the Thunder defence focusing on slowing him down.

Davis took just 10 shots for the Lakers during the loss, but still finished the game with 15 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and four blocks.

"Clearly a lot of attention to detail on the game plan around him, to be honest with you," Redick said.

"Just in terms of a lot of the similar actions we run. We have a bunch of different ways to get him the ball, they're not necessarily one play, and they had prepared well.

"When he was able to get the ball in his normal spots, just the amount of bodies, but again, the second-straight game that a team has done that, and he's been a willing passer.

"Again, seven assists. He didn't score the ball like he normally scores the ball, but he had an outstanding game."

The Lakers (11-8) head back on the road for a four-game trip beginning on Sunday against the Utah Jazz.