What happened: Austin Reaves stated that the Los Angeles Lakers are using the Oklahoma City Thunder as an example for their defensive approach. The guard noted the team wants to balance disruptive ball pressure with its established ability to keep opponents off the foul line.

Why it matters: Finding the line between aggression and discipline is a key preseason focus for Los Angeles as the team refines its scheme. The Thunder have built a reputation for generating turnovers without committing frequent fouls, offering a direct standard for the Lakers to replicate.

What to watch: The Lakers will continue testing these defensive principles in remaining preseason matchups before the regular season begins.