Lakers Struggle Against Thunder, LeBron James Progresses in Recovery

The Los Angeles Lakers faced a challenging matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the league's best team, on November 12, 2025, suffering a significant defeat with a final score of 121 to 92. The Lakers struggled to find their rhythm throughout the game, trailing by double digits for the majority of the contest. Lakers guard Marcus Smart expressed the team's frustration, stating, 'We got our [expletive] kicked,' while teammate Austin Reaves added, 'We feel as if we can get to that level. Just [Wednesday], we wasn't anywhere close to that.'

Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 19 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, but his performance was hindered by a poor shooting night, going just 7 for 20 from the field. The Lakers collectively shot 40.3% from the field and struggled with ball security, committing 20 turnovers. Coach JJ Redick acknowledged the need for improvement, commenting that the Lakers' decisiveness rated a 'zero out of ten' for the night.

The Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 30 points, dominated the game, forcing the Lakers into confusion and mistakes. Oklahoma City capitalized on the Lakers' turnovers, scoring 26 points off those mistakes. The Thunder's defense remained formidable even without two key players, Jalen Williams and Luguentz Dort, who were sidelined with injuries.

In a stark contrast to the Lakers' struggles on the court, LeBron James is making progress in his recovery from a sciatic nerve issue that has kept him sidelined since the start of the season. On the same day as the Lakers' game, James participated in practice with the Lakers' G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. Coach Redick reported that James looked good during drills, engaging in warm-up transition exercises and participating in contact five-on-five play. This practice marks a significant step in his return-to-play process, with Redick noting that the team is hopeful for his return in mid to late November.

While the Lakers prepare for their upcoming games against the New Orleans Pelicans and the Milwaukee Bucks, they must address the issues exposed by the Thunder. The defeat marks a challenging start to their five-game road trip, leaving the Lakers with a record of 8-4 as they seek to regain their footing with or without their star player LeBron James.