Some much-needed rest is in store for the Los Angeles Lakers after besting the Houston Rockets in Round 1 of the Western Conference playoffs by a tally of 4-2.
L.A. closed out the series with a Game 6 victory in Houston on Friday night, May 1. The team — led by 41-year-old LeBron James and Austin Reaves, the latter of whom has played twice after four weeks sidelined with a grade 2 oblique strain — now has nearly four days off before it takes the court in Game 1 of Round 2 against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
The NBA announced the entire schedule for the series — including Games 5-7, should they prove necessary — shortly after the Lakers clinched.
Game 1: Tuesday, May 5 in OKC Game 2: Thursday, May 7 in OKC Game 3: Saturday, May 9 in LA Game 4: Monday, May 11 in LA Game 5*: Wednesday, May 13 in OKC Game 6*: Saturday, May 16 in LA Game 7*: Monday, May 18 IN OKC
*If necessary.
“Lakers-Thunder Round 2 schedule,” Lakers reporter Jovan Buha posted to X.
- Game 1: Tuesday, May 5 in OKC
- Game 2: Thursday, May 7 in OKC
- Game 3: Saturday, May 9 in LA
- Game 4: Monday, May 11 in LA
- Game 5*: Wednesday, May 13 in OKC
- Game 6*: Saturday, May 16 in LA
- Game 7*: Monday, May 18 in OKC
*If necessary.”
Luka Doncic Unlikely Available for Lakers Against Thunder in Round 2 of Playoffs
GettyLuka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers remains sidelined with a hamstring strain he suffered during the regular season.
The 96 hours of rest should come in handy for James and Reaves, though it is unclear how much more progress Luka Doncic can make toward his return to the court before the Lakers’ next game on Tuesday.
While some earlier projections were more optimistic, Shams Charania of ESPN reported last week that Doncic is unlikely to be back against the Thunder in any capacity.
“My understanding is it is a slow path on the recovery front for Luka,” Charania said during an April 28 edition of SportsCenter. “The expectation is if the Lakers are able to beat Houston and advance, Luka Doncic will be out for the next series.”
Doncic was the best player on the Dallas Mavericks team that advanced to the NBA Finals in the 2024 playoffs. That was the last group to beat the Thunder in the playoffs, knocking them off in six games during the Western Conference Semifinals.
LeBron James Talks Lakers’ Strategy Against Thunder
GettyLeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers will lead the team against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Round 2 of the Western Conference playoffs.
James spoke with reporters following the Lakers’ Game 6 victory in Houston and discussed what Los Angeles must do to compete with Oklahoma City and the team’s elite defense.
“Obviously, we’re playing against the defending champion,” James said. “You have to protect the ball versus those guys. They play physical, handsy defense. And if you allow them to get a lot of pick-sixes, it just ignites their home court — it ignites their team.”
Los Angeles lost all three regular-season meetings with Oklahoma City in 2025-26, which doesn’t bode well for the Lakers’ chances. The Thunder finished the year with a record of 64-18, which rendered them the No. 1 team in both the Western Conference and the league as a whole.
The winner of the Lakers-Thunder series will play the victors of the San Antonio Spurs-Minnesota Timberwolves matchup in the Western Conference Finals.
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