Lakers-Thunder Playoff Battle Has Shannon Sharpe Calling Out One Issue

Shannon Sharpe had plenty to react to after Game 2 between the Lakers and Thunder, but his biggest frustration was not just the final score. Oklahoma City picked up a convincing 125-107 win to take control of the series, yet Sharpe's attention went somewhere else during the matchup.

The former NFL star was clearly annoyed by the amount of flopping he saw, calling out what he felt was becoming a frustrating part of an already heated playoff battle.

Sharpe took to X to share his thoughts on the game. He said, "Yeah Lakers you're 2 close. Fouls being called on every Thunder possession."

All that damn flopping

— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) May 8, 2026

And followed it up with another tweet that said, "All that damn flopping."

A Closer Look at How Game Two Played Out Between the Lakers and OKC

Oklahoma City is starting to look like a team with too many answers. The Lakers got a better offensive night from Austin Reaves, and LeBron James still gave them solid production, but it was not enough to slow down the Thunder. OKC won Game 2, 125-107, and now heads to Los Angeles with a 2-0 lead in the series.

What makes the Thunder dangerous is that they are not needing a massive Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring night to win comfortably. SGA has been quieter than usual by his standards, but Oklahoma City's depth has more than covered for it.

Chet Holmgren continues to be a major problem with his scoring, rebounding, and rim protection. Ajay Mitchell has stepped into a bigger role without looking overwhelmed. Jared McCain has suddenly become a serious shooting weapon in this round. That kind of balance makes OKC hard to chase, because the Lakers cannot just key in on one player.

The turning point came when Gilgeous-Alexander picked up foul trouble in the third quarter. Instead of falling apart, the Thunder's second unit pushed the game open and built the lead while he sat.

Los Angeles made one more push in the fourth, but OKC never really looked rattled. With Luka Doncic still out and the Thunder getting contributions from all over the roster, the Lakers now need a major response at home in Game 3.

Related: OG Anunoby's Game 3 Status Against 76ers Gets Encouraging Update

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This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 4:00 AM.