A potential second-round preview in the Western Conference takes place Sunday night as two of the top teams, the LA Lakers and OKC Thunder, clash. The two teams last met in November, and their next two games will be against each other.

Since then, both teams have undergone changes, with the Lakers adding Luka Doncic to their roster and the Thunder benefiting from more consistent player availability.

Here’s a preview of the LA Lakers vs OKC Thunder game, scheduled to tip off at 3:30 p.m. ET at Paycom Center in Oklahoma.

LA Lakers vs OKC Thunder Preview and Odds

Moneyline: Lakers (+290) vs Thunder (-370)

Spread: Lakers +9.5 (-110) vs Thunder -9.5 (-110)

Total (O/U): Lakers o232.5 (-110) vs Thunder u232.5 (-110)

Editor’s note: The odds could change close to the game. The odds listed were as per available information at the time of writing.

LA Lakers vs OKC Thunder preview

The LA Lakers have been inconsistent recently as the Western Conference playoff race tightens, sitting at No. 3 with a 47-30 record heading into tonight’s game. They’ve lost five of their last nine, and this game will be a major test as they face the league-leading OKC Thunder for the first time this calendar year.

Much of the focus will be on how LeBron James and Luka Doncic perform. The Thunder have lineups that can challenge the Lakers, including a double-big lineup designed to exploit the Lakers’ lack of size.

However, the Lakers also have role players who match up well against OKC. The Thunder are coming off a loss to the second-place Houston Rockets and will look to prove their championship-caliber status against the veteran-heavy Lakers.

LA Lakers vs OKC Thunder predicted starting lineups

Lakers

G – Luka Doncic | G – Austin Reaves | F – LeBron James | F – Dorian Finney-Smith | C – Jaxson Hayes

Thunder

G – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | G – Jalen Williams | F – Lu Dort | F – Chet Holmgren | C – Isaiah Hartenstein

Editor’s note: These are the predicted lineups and could change based on the availability of players.

LA Lakers vs OKC Thunder betting props

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander O/U 31.5 points – Take the over.
• Luka Doncic O/U 27.5 points – Take the under.
• LeBron James O/U 21.5 points – Take the over.
• Austin Reaves O/U 18.5 points – Take the under.

LA Lakers vs OKC Thunder prediction

The Thunder match up well against the Lakers, with their fast-paced play and size advantage giving them the edge. While the Lakers shouldn’t be overlooked, OKC is favored for good reason and should have no trouble covering the spread.

Our prediction: Thunder win by 15.

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About the author

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alt=”John Ezekiel Hirro” height=”72″ width=”72″>

John Ezekiel Hirro is an experienced NBA and WNBA journalist at Sportskeeda, with over five years in the field as a news correspondent, sports writer, and Editor-in-Chief. His sports writing career began in high school, where he garnered numerous accolades, including being named the national sports writing champion in 2016.

He earned his journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines in 2024 and served as the Editor-in-Chief of The Varsitarian, the university’s official student publication, for four years—the longest in history.

A passionate basketball enthusiast, he became a fan of the OKC Thunder during the Russ-KD-Harden era. Russell Westbrook, his all-time favorite athlete, impressed him by stepping up as MVP after Kevin Durant’s departure. His current favorite players include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, who he believes are the future of the OKC franchise.

He excels in game analysis and rapid news story turnaround, drawing inspiration from the journalistic styles of Woj and Shams. He emphasizes thorough research to ensure accuracy in his articles. One of his most memorable moments is Russell Westbrook breaking Oscar Robertson’s record with his 42nd triple-double and securing a 106-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Outside of writing, he enjoys listening to music and creating Spotify playlists.

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Edited by John Ezekiel Hirro