The Los Angeles Lakers finished the month of March with a 15-2 record. There was only one single team who was statistically hotter than them over that stretch. That would be the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who are also coincidentally the next matchup on the schedule.
It was a 14-1 month for the Thunder in March, picking up steam ahead of their looming title defense in the upcoming postseason. Oklahoma City has been there and done that. They are the gold standard everyone is weighing themselves against in the final stretch of the season.
Both the Lakers and Thunder will enter their matchup as winners in nine of their last 10 games. Los Angeles is riding a four-game winning streak. Oklahoma City comes in having secured three contests in a row.
The first of two meetings in early April between these two sides will be in the Thunder's home arena. It would be a massive statement win to everyone watching if the Lakers went in there and secured a victory over the team many will still (rightfully) believe are the favorites to win the title again.
Lakers can make their case as contenders by knocking off the Thunder
Ultimately, this is a conversation of optics. The Lakers greatly improved theirs in March by beating the good and great teams in front of them.
There were stretches that had proper potential to sink Los Angeles. Instead, the Lakers made their case over and over for why they should be taken seriously. Their record against .500 and above teams has improved to an even 23-23 after a shaky start.
What better way to test how far things have come than by putting that up against the Thunder?
"Very excited," Austin Reaves said of the upcoming duel. "Obviously, they're the defending champs, playing at a high level. Obviously, one of the best teams in the league, if not the best team. We have an opportunity to go into OKC and battle them."
JJ Redick jokingly admitted the preparations have not fully begun for the Thunder game. However, the Lakers coach did have more to add on the subject after that.
"They're great on both sides of the ball," Redick said. "They are going to make you work for things defensively, because of how physical they are. ... They just are really good at what they do."
Redick added points about how great the Thunder are attacking inside, forcing defenses to stay honest. There were further conversations to be had about how good Oklahoma City is at having their bigs slip actions, shooters get open, etc.
Redick also mentioned how well-established the Thunder are in their system. That consistency makes them a tough team to face.
Even so, any path to a championship in 2025-26 is more than likely to go through them. That means any team who wants to unseat them at the mountaintop must find a way. A lot of things have clicked for the Lakers in March. Whether it was enough to put them on par with the juggernauts of the Western Conference can get some semblance of an answer here.