Rumors

But, after shooting just 3-for-16 and coughing up a team-high four turnovers as the Los Angeles Lakers dropped Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals to the defending champs, Reaves admitted that context is meaningless at this point of the postseason. "I mean, nobody cares about that," Reaves said when asked about the challenge of ramping back to form after missing so much time. "I got to go out there and play better."

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On Tuesday, he was 0-for-5 from 3, failing to connect from deep for the third time in 29 career postseason games, according to ESPN Research. Two of those games have come this postseason. "He was out a month," LeBron James said when asked about Reaves' struggles. "We know he's going to make shots and make plays, but that's tough. ... Obviously we're trying to fast-track him, getting back on the floor and doing the things that he was doing before the injury. But he was out a month, so rightfully so, if he has some games where he's missing shots or whatever the case may be. "His presence alone helps us no matter what."

ESPN.com

Dave McMenamin: “When you play against the world champions and [miss] having a guy that averages 34 [points] and eight [rebounds] and nine [assists] and is that special, that’s [a major piece missing]” - LeBron James providing context to the Lakers’ offensive woes, while Luka Doncic is out

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At this point, the Lakers will take every win they can get, as they simply have found the Thunder to be the puzzle they cannot solve no matter what. And after the game, head coach JJ Redick lauded his team for getting up good enough looks to the point of winning “expected score”. “We won expected score so it was good enough to win,” Redick said, via Oh No He Didn't on X (formerly Twitter).

Clutch Points

BronMuse: Chet was asked if he ever imagined being in a playoff series against LeBron: "Maybe with him coaching or something... It's fun to go at it with great players and he's one of them." 😂🤝

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Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt sustained a full dislocation of his right pinkie during Tuesday's 108-90 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals series, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania. Vanderbilt was injured when he attempted to block a dunk by Thunder center Chet Holmgren. Vanderbilt swiped at Holmgren behind the play and hit his finger on the corner of the backboard. Holmgren made the dunk to put the Thunder up 48-39 with 5:57 left in the second quarter.

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Vanderbilt needed stitches postgame because the bone in his dislocated pinkie finger broke skin, sources said. Lakers assistant athletic trainer Octavio Marquez Montoya and coach JJ Redick walked the length of the court to attend to Vanderbilt, who was on the opposite baseline.

ESPN.com

During his introductory press conference on Tuesday, Ujiri spoke candidly about taking over following the ill-fated trade that left so many Mavs fans scarred. He went back to his African roots to send a message to a fan base needing hope for the future. “I want to be very respectful to everybody here, and yes, there’s a healing process with that. Luka’s a future Hall of Famer. That’s the past,” Ujiri told reporters. “In Africa, we say when kings go, kings come. And a king went, and we have a little prince here that we’re gonna turn into a king.”

Larry Brown Sports

Nevertheless, all of that Jokic slander got us thinking about which NBA All-Stars won the most playoff series against teams that had at least 50 wins in the regular season. The answer is none other than the late, great Kobe Bryant - and comfortably so. Bryant won an astounding 25 playoff series against teams that won at least 50 regular-season games that same year, three more than the next closest player, Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen. Considering Bryant in total won 33 playoff series in his entire career, for 25 of those playoff series victories, amounting to roughly 76 percent, to come against 50-win teams is nearly unfathomable.

HoopsHype

Dave McMenamin: “JJ’s been nice; we were ass” - Marcus Smart on how the Lakers were coached by JJ Redick in Game 1 vs. how the Lakers players executed in Game 1

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Lakers Daily: Austin: "Once you make a couple of mental mistakes, it seems like they take advantage of every one of them. So just gotta be sharp every possession."

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Lakers Daily: Austin: "I got to my spots multiple times. I just missed a couple easy shots."

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Clemente Almanza: Chet Holmgren on his playoffs this year compared to last year: “I just feel a lot better physically.”

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Dan Woike: Jared Vanderbilt suffered a dislocation of his finger, JJ Redick says. Some teammates are refusing to watch the play. Horrible luck for a player who has been very important behind the scenes and who adds an on-court toughness that they need.

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