Depleted Lakers fall to league-best Thunder for third straight loss

But their spirited start despite Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Marcus Smart and Jaxson Hayes being available offered a glimmer of hope.

Two-way center Drew Timme couldn’t miss early.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander goes up for a layup surrounded by defenders. NBAE via Getty Images

Luke Kennard was once again leading the Lakers’ offense has a playmaker.

Rookie forward Adou Thiero’s athleticism was popping.

And somehow, the Lakers found themselves tied with the defending champions at 42 apiece midway through the second quarter.

But that hope quickly evaporated, with the Thunder taking full control of the game.

The Lakers scored just 22 points over the next 24 minutes of playing time en route to a 123-87 blowout loss.

Deandre Ayton goes up for a block in the paint. NBAE via Getty Images

Their scoring total was their lowest in a game this season.

Rui Hachimura, one of four Lakers who were getting rotation minutes a week ago who was available on Tuesday, led the short-handed Lakers with 15 points.

Timme had 11 points. Kennard finished with 10 points and 9 assists, while Thiero had a career-high 10 points in the most playing time he’s had in an NBA game (21 minutes).

What it means

The Lakers are in the midst of their first three-game losing streak since Feb. 22-26.

They stayed at No. 4 in the Western Conference standings with a 50-29 record, now a game behind the Nuggets (51-28) with three games left in the regular season.

Rui Hachimura hits a jumper with a hand in his face. NBAE via Getty Images

Turning point

It should’ve been much earlier in the game considering who wasn’t available for the Lakers.

But when Jake LaRavia missed a pair of free throws late in the second quarter, with the Lakers already trailing, 60-46, and Isaiah Joe made a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to put the Thunder up by 17, it was clear if it wasn’t already that Tuesday wasn’t going to be the Lakers’ night.

MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

The reigning league MVP didn’t have any troubles against the depleted Lakers.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a game-high 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting to go with 8 assists in 28 minutes, sitting out of the fourth with the Thunder leading 93-62 going into the final quarter.

Stat of the game: 17

That’s how many free throws the Lakers missed, making an already difficult game even more challenging than it needed to be.

The Lakers’ 45.2% free-throw percentage on Tuesday was by far their worst mark for a game this season.

Their previous worst free-throw percentage accuracy was the 57.1% they shot from the charity stripe in the Jan. 9 home loss to the Bucks.

Up next

The Lakers will travel to San Francisco to play the Warriors on Thursday at Chase Center.

The matchup against the Warriors will be the first night of a back-to-back, with the Lakers hosting the Suns on Friday.