In Game 4 of the NBA playoff second round, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 115-110 on the road, completing a 4-0 series sweep. After the game, Luka Doncic provided an update on his recovery. He stated that he has not yet participated in contact training and has not received medical clearance, with contact drills expected to begin within the next week or two. This means Doncic likely won’t be fully cleared until next month, indicating a serious injury. However, it won’t affect his offseason preparation, and he is expected to be ready for next season.
LeBron James addressed his future with the team, saying he will take several weeks to consider his options. He noted that he doesn’t know what the future holds, but fans will know when the time is right. Typically, a decision could take one to two months, during which he will rest and discuss with family, management, and head coach JJ Redick to determine his path. Based on his recent performance, LeBron still has plenty left in the tank and could effectively serve as a third option.
Austin Reaves expressed remorse for LeBron, stating that he owes a lot to him for daily confidence. After missing a potential game-tying three-pointer, LeBron approached him and said, “Good shot, keep your head up,” highlighting LeBron’s character. Reaves scored 27 points in the game but committed eight costly turnovers, and his defensive contributions were lacking, underscoring his clear strengths and weaknesses.
Rui Hachimura thanked coach JJ Redick for encouraging him to shoot more three-pointers, a style he previously disliked. He noted that this change in playing style has been crucial for his improvement, and in the final moments of Game 4, he hit key shots to keep the team close. His performance has been one of the Lakers’ biggest gains this season.
