OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – MAY 05: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the third quarter of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 05, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)

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Tyler Erzberger

By Tyler Erzberger

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LeBron James is in despair.

He won't show it, but the 41-year-old is being tasked with being Superman against a team just entering its prime.

On Tuesday, James and the Los Angeles Lakers got out to a hot 7-0 start against the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder on the road in game one of the Western Conference semifinals.

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Yet, as the game went on, despite James's game-high 27 points, it wasn't enough.

The Thunder kept sending waves of players at the Lakers, and no matter how many times James pulled back the clock to deliver a blow to the defending champion, they came back with another counterpunch to the solar plexus.

On a night when reigning and most likely back-to-back league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had to barely break a sweat, the Thunder left the star role duty to big man Chet Holmgren.

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 05: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers works against Luguentz Dort #5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Paycom Center on May 05, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)

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More news: Can LeBron James Do the Impossible? Lakers vs. Thunder Playoff Prediction

For the Lakers, with league-leading scorer Luka Doncic on the bench, they tried to put their trust in Austin Reaves, but for a second postseason in a row, he's failed to live up to the expectations.

Although he's coming off an oblique strain, Reaves was a complete detriment on the court on Tuesday, going 3-16 from the field with four turnovers to go along with his shoddy shooting.

Luke Kennard couldn't find the hot hand that he had early on in the first round series against the Houston Rockets, and although Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart chipped in at times, it was nowhere near enough.

It's only a single game, but the statement has been made loud and clear: these Lakers have no chance to beat a fully operational Thunder team.

Even with Doncic, the Thunder would be heavily favored.

But without the Slovenian superstar?

It's LeBron James, alone, pushing himself beyond any limit a man of his age should be able to go, left to fight against an adversary that he can't possibly overcome.

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