Lakers Stunned in Blowout Loss to Thunder as Dončić Exits Early

Mike Krzyzewski praises Lakers coach JJ Redick's competitiveness and preparation amid the team's struggles

Apr. 3, 2026 at 5:23pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the action of a basketball game, with the players' forms broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape, reflecting the Lakers' struggles against the Thunder.A cubist interpretation of the Lakers' blowout loss to the Thunder, capturing the game's chaotic energy and the team's vulnerability without their star player.Oklahoma City Today

The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a shocking 139-96 blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, with the game effectively over by halftime. The Lakers' struggles were compounded by an early exit for star player Luka Dončić due to a hamstring injury. In the aftermath, attention has shifted to Lakers head coach JJ Redick, with his former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski offering a strong public endorsement of Redick's competitiveness, preparation, and understanding of the NBA.

Why it matters

The Lakers' blowout loss to the Thunder raises questions about the team's ability to compete at the highest level, especially with Dončić's injury potentially looming large heading into the playoffs. Krzyzewski's endorsement of Redick, however, suggests the Lakers' coach has the backing of one of the most respected figures in basketball, which could be crucial as the team looks to rebound from this setback.

The details

The Lakers were overwhelmed from the start, with the Thunder exploding for an 82-51 halftime lead. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way for OKC with 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists, while the Lakers struggled offensively, shooting just 23% from deep and committing numerous turnovers. To make matters worse, Dončić exited the game early with a hamstring injury after being held to just 12 points.

  • The game took place on Thursday, April 3, 2026.
  • Dončić left the game early with a hamstring injury.

The players

Mike Krzyzewski

The legendary former head coach of the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team, who has a close relationship with Lakers coach JJ Redick from their time together at Duke.

JJ Redick

The head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, who is in his third season with the team and has led them to back-to-back 50-win seasons and a top-3 seed in the Western Conference this year.

Luka Dončić

The star player for the Los Angeles Lakers, who is the NBA's leading scorer at 33.5 points per game but exited Thursday's game early with a hamstring injury.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The star player for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who had 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists in the blowout win over the Lakers.

Rob Pelinka

The general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers, who hired JJ Redick as the team's head coach.

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What they’re saying

“During that time, they offered the job to Danny Hurley. And then he turned it down. And I thought JJ did a great job with Rob Pelinka in saying, 'Look, that doesn't bug me at all … I know the NBA.'”

— Mike Krzyzewski, Former Duke Head Coach

“He's so damn competitive, and he's really smart and unbelievably prepared ... And so I think it was a great, great move by the Lakers and Rob Pelinka to hire him. And obviously it's paid off.”

— Mike Krzyzewski, Former Duke Head Coach

What’s next

The Lakers will look to rebound from the blowout loss as they prepare for the upcoming playoffs, with Dončić's hamstring injury being a key concern heading into the postseason.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the Lakers' vulnerability against elite teams, especially when their superstar player goes down with an injury. However, the strong endorsement from Krzyzewski suggests the team's leadership, in the form of coach Redick, has the backing of one of the most respected figures in basketball, which could be crucial as the Lakers look to bounce back and make a deep playoff run.