As the Los Angeles Lakers gear up for their Western Conference semifinals clash with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Austin Reaves is making sure his team's mindset is locked in. The Lakers enter the series as underdogs, facing the defending NBA champions without homecourt advantage and still missing Luka Doncic, who is recovering from a hamstring injury.

But don't count them out just yet. The Lakers carry serious momentum after knocking off the Houston Rockets 4-2 in the first round. Reaves, who returned for the final two games of that series, made an immediate impact, averaging 18.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists while helping LeBron James push the team forward.

"You could say nobody thought we were going to get past Houston, but everybody in this building believed," Reaves said on Sunday. "It's the same mindset going into this. We obviously know the team that we're about to face and how good they are and the problems that they can create for 48 minutes. So, we'll have to lock in every single day, film, whatever it could be, to continue to get better and pay attention to all the little details like they do."

Reaves will likely draw the tough assignment of guarding reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a challenge that demands both defensive grit and offensive consistency. The good news? The Lakers boast a versatile lineup with LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Marcus Smart all capable of switching onto multiple positions—giving the team flexibility to adapt.

Game 1 tips off Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET at Paycom Center, broadcast live on NBC. For Lakers fans, this series is a test of resilience—and Reaves and company are ready to prove the doubters wrong once again.