The Los Angeles Lakers will have an early yardstick-type game on Wednesday when they continue their five-game road trip against the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder. They have gotten out to an 8-3 record, and they have won six of their last seven games despite being short-handed.

Clearing his bench for a fourth quarter that was required to play out, Steve Kerr likely had a rush of nostalgia. The Oklahoma City Thunder destroyed the Golden State Warriors in their easy-peasy 126-101 win that saw Shai Gilgeous-Alexander clock out earlier than scheduled.

The Golden State Warriors getting Stephen Curry back raised some hope. However, hope is only useful when the opposition gives them a window to win. The Oklahoma City Thunder have lost just one of their 12 games,

The Warriors won each of the first two rounds of the playoffs in five games, then came back from 3-1 down against the Thunder to win the Western Conference finals, setting up a rematch with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Golden State jumped out to a 3-1 lead in that series. However, Cleveland stormed back to win its first NBA championship.

In the NBA, a lot can change in a year. Rosters, contenders, the entire landscape — there’s turnover everywhere and it’s a league that never stops changing. In

BOTTOM LINE: Oklahoma City hosts Los Angeles trying to continue its five-game home winning streak. Oklahoma City went 68-14 overall, 39-13 in Western Conference action and 36-6 at home during the 2024-25 season. The Thunder averaged 120.5 points per game while shooting 48.2% from the field and 37.4% from behind the arc last season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points in three quarters and Chet Holmgren went a flawless 9-for-9 from the field as league-leading Oklahoma City cruised past Golden State, 126-102, to move to 11-1 on the season.

The NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder are off to an 11-1 start to the 2025-26 season, and reigning league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains the catalyst for their success.

Tipoff is set for 9:30 p.m. ET. OKC is a 7.5-point home favorite in the latest Lakers vs. Thunder odds, while the over/under is 230.5. Before making an Thunder vs. Lakers picks, check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.