Without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the Los Angeles Lakers put on a flop 123–87 show against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night. This 36-point blowout marked their second massive loss to OKC in a week.
JJ Redick's squad was outscored in every quarter, clearly struggling for rhythm without their primary playmakers. LeBron James was not on the court due to his foot injury, leaving Rui Hachimura to lead the team, but he scored only 15 points.
However, the most concerning part of the loss was DeAndre Ayton’s lack of impact. In 23 minutes, the 7-foot center managed only three points and three rebounds. After the game, the second-year coach didn't hold back, admitting it is difficult to keep Ayton involved in the offense.
He has averaged 10.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 23 games since the All-Star Game, which is far less than the Lakers expected. He is struggling in the half-court, where his inability to catch entry passes makes him a liability in the pick-and-roll.
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The front office signed Ayton last July to a two-year, $16.6 million deal after he cleared waivers. The goal was for the former No. 1 pick to fill the void left by Anthony Davis’ departure and give Doncic a reliable lob threat. But it hasn't worked out that way.
Through 68 games, Ayton is posting only 12.4 points and 8.1 rebounds. His defense has never been consistent. In late February, Redick benched him after he gave up three straight layups against the Golden State Warriors.
After the game on Tuesday, Redick finally addressed his problem via ESPN's Dave McMenamin, saying, “He’s had trouble catching the ball.”
However, the frustration goes both ways. After losing to Orlando in February, Ayton complained that the team was trying to turn him into Clint Capela. Capela shot back on social media, telling him to "lock in" since he plays with two of the best point guards in the league.
Ayton eventually admitted he needed a reality check. He told reporters he realized he wasn't "that guy" and needed to focus on being the "effort guy" instead. That shift helped briefly, but Tuesday’s performance against OKC was a step backward.
The Lakers play at Golden State this Thursday. They have dropped to the No. 4 seed after three straight losses. If they finish with a losing record in these final three games, they risk falling to the No. 5 seed behind the Houston Rockets.
