Smart Confident After Lakers' Game 1 Loss

The Lakers' defense kept them competitive in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal matchup against Oklahoma City, but their offense faltered as the game progressed. Los Angeles scored just 19 points in the third quarter and 18 in the fourth, allowing the Thunder to build a comfortable lead.

LeBron James led the Lakers with 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting, while Rui Hachimura added 18. However, Marcus Smart, who scored 12 points on 4-of-15 shooting, remained optimistic about the team's chances. 'I'm very positive in the way that the game plan is,' Smart said. 'We're getting Austin back in his groove and just getting guys back.' The Lakers might be without Jarred Vanderbilt and Luke Kennard for Game 2 on Thursday, increasing the pressure on Smart to deliver offensively. betsport24.es