The test without defensive stoppers is seriously . Without Williams and Dort, the Oklahoma Thunder face a crumbling wall as the Lakers’ Doncic Reeves attack faces a huge challenge. Find out how the team will handle this significant challenge
The streaking Oklahoma City Thunder continue to shine, but now face a challenge that could dull their luster. A back-to-back with the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night will be the Thunder’s biggest test. Why? Two of their strongest defensive players, Jalen Williams and Lu Dort, will be absent from the court, plus bench strength Aaron Wiggins.
Nevertheless, it was a strong display by the Thunder in their last game as they were able to hold the Golden State Warriors to just 102 points. OKC improved its record to 11-1 after it managed to neutralize stars like Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler. Today’s match, though, is a different story altogether.
Lakers vs. Thunder: Why is this matchup so special?
If there is one team that can rip any defense apart, it’s the Los Angeles Lakers, even without LeBron James this season. With players like Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, they can tear apart any team’s defense. Doncic has been in excellent form this season and is considered ready for an All-Star appearance.
Biggest concern: The Thunder will be without their most reliable weapon to stop Doncic in Lu Dort. Dort has been the league’s biggest troublemaker for Doncic over the past two seasons.
How will the Thunder handle Doncic’s attacks?
It is believed that a certain approach will be utilized in Oklahoma City:
Emphasis on team defense: The Thunder will probably double-team him, i.e., pressure him with two players, many times. They will try to take the ball away from Doncic and launch a swift counter-attack.
Cason Wallace has a tall order: If Doncic goes one-on-one, much of the responsibility will be on young guard Cason Wallace to contain him. Wallace had a great game guarding Steph Curry his last time out. Today will be a true test of his mettle.
Reasons for Concern for the Thunder
Luka Doncic has been incredible every time he’s faced the Thunder: He led the Thunder to victory in the second round of the playoffs in 2024 against the Dallas Mavericks. He led the Thunder to a convincing victory against OKC last March as well. That clearly shows the Lakers have become a ‘real threat’ to the Thunder.
