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Two of the top teams in the Western Conference as of this writing, the 11-1 Oklahoma City Thunder and the 8-3 Los Angeles Lakers, have finally unveiled their full starting lineups ahead of their clash in Chesapeake Energy Arena on Wednesday night. Dan Woike of The Athletic has shared the two teams' first fives. Los Angeles is still missing 21-time All-NBA superstar power forward LeBron James and top point-of-attack defensive guard Gabe Vincent, plus rookie forward Adou Thiero. LA's Starting Lineup The Lakers will start All-NBA First Team guard Luka Doncic and rising star guard Austin Reaves in the backcourt, 6-foot-3 former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart along the perimeter (the 6-foot-6 Doncic or 6-foot-5 Reaves may essentially serve as LA's starting small forward on offense, but Smart will take that assignment on the other end), power forward Rui Hachimura and center Deandre Ayton. More news: Lakers GM Already Consulting with Dodgers President After $10 Billion Sale Oklahoma City, meanwhile, is without arguably its second-best player in All-NBA Second Team forward Jalen Williams. Per the league's latest injury report, Williams continues to recuperate from the right wrist surgery that has cost him the entire season thus far. More news: Hall of Fame Former Lakers Rival Urges LA to Trade LeBron James All-Defensive guard Luguentz Dort is also out with a right upper trap strain. Rookie first-round picks Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgery) and Nikola Topic (testicular cancer treatment — he was drafted in 2024, but sat out the season with an ACL tear of his own, before being dealt some horrible health luck this year) are both sidelined. The Thunder will also be missing rising wing Aaron Wiggins, who's on the shelf with an adductor strain. Oklahoma City's First Five The Thunder will start MVP point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander alongside wings Ajay Mitchell and Cason Wallace, with power forward Chet Holmgren and center Isaiah Hartenstein filling out the front line. The matchup, a road tilt for Los Angeles, tips off at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN nationally and Spectrum SportsNet locally. Latest Lakers News
