JJ Redick tried to work the officials before the game even started, but his pre-game complaints about the Thunder’s physicality only underscored the challenge awaiting the Lakers.

Oklahoma City has built its identity on aggressive, swarming defense, and matchups with the Thunder rarely pass without frustration. Redick made that clear before tipoff, telling reporters that OKC players grab and hold offensive players on nearly every possession, and that LA needed to focus on ball security to avoid costly turnovers. Unfortunately for the Lakers, that warning went unheeded.

Despite arriving at Crypto.com Arena severely shorthanded—including the absence of reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander—the Thunder left with a gritty nine-point victory. They jumped passing lanes, forced mistakes, and turned empty Lakers possessions into momentum. As the game wore on, Oklahoma City’s pressure only intensified, and Los Angeles struggled to generate any consistent offensive rhythm.

From the Lakers’ perspective, the officiating never seemed to match the level of contact. But rather than publicly criticizing the referees, a common move that often draws league fines, Redick took a different approach by focusing on his team’s internal shortcomings.

“They’re going to pressure you, and I think we had a number of really good possessions where we brought the right guys into the action,” Redick told the media after the game. “We got the matchups and created driving angles for AR or matchups for LeBron throughout the game.”

Redick explained that the team kept forcing low-percentage shots—playing hero ball, a strategy that doesn’t work against championship level teams who have good coaching and can make the right reads. The unforced errors, as he called the turnovers, were the real issue for him, not officiating.

By calling out on-court play instead of the refs, Redick avoided the fines and warning usual officiating-based complaints often draw from the league. After all, he had good reason to complain.

Thunder Close Strong as Shorthanded Matchup Slips Away From JJ Redick’s Lakers

Both teams came into Monday night short-handed but the Thunder handled the game better late. Without SGA for a third straight game and with Luka Doncic sidelined for the Lakers, the matchup turned into a test of depth, with Jalen Williams and Isaiah Joe leading the way as OKC ended a two-game skid.

The game swung wildly during the middle. The Thunder built a 14-point lead in the first half, carrying a 67-58 lead, with Joe doing most of his scoring early. The Lakers seemed to seize control in the third quarter, electrifying the home crowd with a massive 22-3 run to take the lead. However, the young Thunder squad never panicked, weathering the storm before Alex Caruso helped flip the lead right back heading into the final frame.

From there, it was pure execution. Isaiah Hartenstein sparked an 11-2 run, and Williams closed the game at the free throw line. LeBron James tried his best with 22 points and 10 assists, but missed a late three. OKC is now 2-0 against the Lakers, with two meetings on the way, and they proved they can win without their superstar.