The Athletic NBA Daily Thunder win thriller + Lakers let Luka down
Oct 22, 2025
Andrew Schlecht, an Oklahoma City-based reporter, shares thrilling details from the Thunder's ring night and their heart-pounding double-overtime win against the Rockets. He dishes on a timeout controversy and the standout performances, notably from Chet Holmgren. Joining him is Dan Woike, a Lakers reporter, who dives into the Lakers' struggles against the Warriors, highlighting chemistry issues and Luka Doncic's heavy workload. The conversation covers team cohesion, lineup choices, and what the Lakers need to improve moving forward.
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Thunder Deliver A Showtime Opener
- The Thunder's opening-night double OT win delivered high drama and showcased their championship identity.
- Andrew Schlecht said the game "had everything" and was a great start to NBC's NBA season.
Ring Night Atmosphere In OKC
- Andrew described the in-arena atmosphere: rings, banner raising, and Kevin Durant boos.
- He said Durant was booed on almost every possession and even "booed him back."
Shooting Variance Drove The Close Game
- OKC struggled from three despite quality looks, turning shooting variance into a tense game.
- Andrew Schlecht noted they were 13 of 52 from deep and many open attempts simply didn't fall.