In Game 2 of the playoff series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder, a pivotal moment arrived with 10:34 left in the third quarter. The Lakers held a promising 66-61 lead, and Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had just picked up his fourth personal foul—a flagrant 1—sending him to the bench for the remainder of the game. With the Lakers hitting shots from beyond the arc and a golden opportunity to seize control and even the series, the stage seemed set for a momentum shift.

But basketball is a game of runs, and the Thunder had other plans. Without their franchise player on the floor, Oklahoma City gradually wrestled control away, closing the third quarter with a 93-80 lead. The Lakers couldn't mount any sustained comebacks, ultimately falling 125-107 in a loss that left the team frustrated—especially with the officiating.

Ironically, the Lakers had successfully contained Gilgeous-Alexander, holding him to a modest 22 points, similar to their Game 1 effort. Yet, they lost the game when he wasn't even playing. Head coach JJ Redick highlighted the decisive stretch that buried his team.

"I talked about it a little bit yesterday, them being plus-nine in the non-Shai minutes and then in the second half, we just got blitzed—32-14 run, seven turnovers, they shot 14 free throws during that stretch," Redick said. "We'll look at lineups, we'll look at everything. Try to figure out how to be better in those minutes."

It's a tough pill to swallow: doing a great job of containing the opponent's biggest threat, only to get overwhelmed when he's on the bench. Six Thunder players scored in double figures, including Chet Holmgren (22 points), Ajay Mitchell (20 points), and reserve guard Jared McCain (18 points). The depth of Oklahoma City's roster was on full display.

Redick had already emphasized publicly that the Lakers needed to stop the Thunder's big runs, which are often fueled by their aggressive defense. That challenge remains one of several issues Los Angeles must address as the series shifts to the Lakers' home court for Game 3 on Saturday. For fans and players alike, the key takeaway is clear: in the playoffs, every minute—even without the superstar on the floor—can decide a game.