The seeding games in the NBA bubble is already proving to be the perfect return to the league. We have witnessed nail-biting thrillers in just a few days after the regular-season fixtures began. The Los Angeles Lakers are the most dominating team in the West and have already sealed their playoff berth as the #1 seed. But what will go down when they meet Oklahoma City Thunder in their next game? 

The Lakers will be taking on the Thunder in their fourth seeding game. On the other hand, it will just be the third game that OKC will be playing. Chris Paul and co. kick-started their campaign with a win against the Jazz, a game that was originally supposed to be played on March 11, until Rudy Gobert tested positive for the virus which led to the game being called off. We all know what happened next. 

The Los Angeles Lakers have a healthy lineup ahead of Thunder game

Except for Rajon Rondo, who will be out for quite a while, the Lakers don’t have any serious concerns about player injuries. Alex Caruso took a bitter fall on his tailbone in the Jazz game, the same area where he took a fall earlier in the bubble which caused him to miss a scrimmage game. However, Caruso carried on after his fall, which means there’s nothing to worry about, Laker fans!

On the other hand, the Thunder might have to play without Dennis Schroder on the team. The 26-year-old left the bubble before the game against the Nuggets. Schroder wanted to be with his wife as she just gave birth to their second child. 

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Moreover, Terrence Ferguson did not play the Nuggets game due to a leg contusion. Ferguson did not play much against the Jazz as well, as coach Donovan only gave him four minutes of playing time. We can expect to see Ferguson get some minutes for the Thunder in their attempt to register a win against the Lakers. 

Is fourth time a charm for OKC?

Looking at the season stats this year, we have found that Oklahoma City Thunder have not managed to register a single victory against the Lakers. The purple and gold have a 3-0 streak against a rejuvenated Thunder team. But can they do it inside the Orlando bubble? 

It is indeed an uphill task for the Thunder to overcome the might of the Lakers. There is little possibility that the Lakers might give away wins just because they are already the top seed in the west. 

Anthony Davis is in red-hot form and we know it for a fact. The Thunder, on the other hand, has a talented line-up that can pose a real challenge to the Lakers. Veteran Chris Paul is pulling the strings on the court and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is weaving his magic. 

However, we feel that the Lakers will be getting the victory in this one, riding on the back of a superb shooting display against the Jazz. LeBron is yet to unleash his wrath upon an opponent. Is he playing it safe until the playoffs or has he not found the right form yet? We could see it all in the game versus the Thunder!

SOURCE: Sports Illustrated