LeBron James crashes out at refs after worst NBA playoff run ever as Charles Barkley mocks Lakers

Charles Barkley brought out the broom after the Los Angeles Lakers suffered another humbling loss.

The Purple and Gold led at the half for the second successive game but collapsed to a 108-131 defeat against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

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It is the first time in NBA playoff history that a team has been ahead at the half in back-to-back playoff games and lost by a combined 40-plus points.

JJ Redick claimed LeBron James has “the worst whistle of any star player” after Game 2, and the all-time great lashed out at the officials after key no-calls.

Early in the first quarter, King James was fouled by a Lu Dort while, attempting a three and had to restart his shooting motion.

He missed after the pump fake and the foul was judged to have occurred prior to his shooting motion, leading to a furious James pleading his case.

In the third, with Los Angeles trailing by four on home court, the Lakers star ended up on the hardwood after contact was made while he attempted a shot.

Nothing was given and Chet Holmgren was left with a walk-in slam

“I’m not angry or disappointed,” James said after the loss. “Obviously, you’re disappointed with the simple fact that you’re down 3-0.

“But we still got life. That’s all you can ask for. We have to be much better on Monday.”

The Lakers host Game 4 looking to become the first team ever to win after a 3-0 series deficit.

With Luka Doncic still absent, another loss looks more likely and Barkley made that point as he gleefully swept the floor on Inside the NBA.

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The last three teams to sweep the Lakers ended up winning it all — Spurs (2007), Warriors (2018), Nuggets (2023).

LeBron weas asked if OKC was on a par with that Golden State dynasty or Michael Jordan‘s Chicago Bulls and evaded a direct comparison.

“Pretty damn good from top to bottom,” he said. “They don’t let their foot off the gas.”

Redick admitted his team had been outclasses throughout the series.

“They’ve kicked our ass for three straight games. They’re an incredible basketball team,” he said. “We’ve got to be better. But I’m not giving up on the series.

“We’re going to try to win on Monday. We’re going to try to extend the series. We’re going to try to take this thing back at OKC.”

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It was always going to be a tough ask without Doncic, who suffered a hamstring injury that has robbed his team of its star player.

“Luka is over there. We hear him. He’s talking to us a little bit,” guard Luke Kennard admitted. “When you have the league’s leading scorer out there, if he was, it definitely changes the dynamic of a team.

“We know that. Obviously we miss him. And we know that he’s working his butt off right now.

“That’s all that he’s been putting the time in. We that he’s trying really hard. He would definitely change it for us. But right now he wasn’t out there.”

The Lakers had spells of great play Saturday, but couldn’t match the free-scoring Thunder.

“Everything and more to beat a team like this,” James said. “We have to be at our best on Monday.”

That’s all the Lakers can do. It might not be enough.

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