OKLAHOMA CITY — LeBron James sat with both feet in a bucket of ice and both knees wrapped in ice, his answers brief when the subject of the officiating came up after the Lakers lost Game 2 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 125-107, Thursday night at Paycom Center.

James just looked straight ahead and kept his answers short even when he was told his coach, JJ Redick, voiced his displeasure with the officiating, especially when it was about the lack of calls for his 23-year veteran.

When asked about the officials, which became the main theme after the Lakers dropped a second consecutive game by 18 points in the best-of-seven semifinal series, James was diplomatic.

“We’re down 2-0,” he said.

Indeed, the Lakers are down 2-0 in the that resumes with Game 3 on Saturday night in Los Angeles.

Still, James was asked about Redick saying his superstar gets some of the worst calls and why that is the case — at least in the eyes of Redick.

“I don’t know,” James said.

Again, James was asked about his conversation with the officials and if he’s satisfied with their answers.

“Nah,” James said.

James shot only four free throws in the game, and he made all four, finishing with 23 points. Austin Reaves responded from a bad Game 1 by scoring a playoff career-high 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting, making three if six three-pointers.

Even with an impressive Lakers defense that constantly doubled teamed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to keep him to 22 points and in foul trouble most of the game, L.A. spent a lot of time after the game complaining about the officials.

Redick was issued a technical foul in the first quarter. Reaves had words with the officials. Marcus Smart and several of the Lakers had heated conversations with the officials after the game was over.

Lakers coach JJ Redick reacts to play during the Game 2 loss to the Thunder on Thursday night in Oklahoma City.

(Nate Billings / Associated Press)

“Yeah, I mean, I sarcastically said the other day, ‘They’re [the Thunder] … the most disruptive team without fouling,’” Redick said. “I mean, they have a few guys that foul on every possession and all good defenses do it. SGA gets like a touch foul I guess on a drive. There was a stretch of four straight possessions our guys got absolutely clobbered, trying to make an entry pass to (Jaxson Hayes) and Jaylin Williams is grabbing his jersey with both arms. That’s a … they’re hard enough to play. They’re hard enough to play, you’ve got to be able to just call them if they foul, and they do foul.”

James has shot only five free throws in the first two games.

“LeBron has the worst whistle of any star player I’ve ever seen,” Redick said. “I mean, I’ve been with him two years now. There’s, again, the smaller guys, because they can be theatric, they typically draw more fouls and the bigger players that are built like LeBron, it’s hard for them. He gets clobbered. He got clobbered again tonight a bunch. And that’s not like a new thing. That’s not specific to this crew or this series. He gets fouled a lot and it doesn’t happen. The guy gets hit on the head more than any player I’ve seen on drives, and rarely get called.”

Reaves said he was frustrated with referee Ben Taylor and that the two of them had an exchange just before a jump ball with 6:06 left in the fourth quarter.

“When we were doing the whole tip ball when they were switching spots, I wanted to get on the other side because they had a guy on the other side, was just trying to keep an advantage,” Reaves said. “And he turned around and just yelled in my face. I just thought it was disrespectful. You know, the whole time that was going on over there, I don’t think he said much to them.

“I know Ben. I stepped in and said something. But you know, at the end of the day, we’re grown men. And I just didn’t feel like he needed to yell in my face like that. I told him that. I wasn’t disrespectful. I told him if I did that to him first, I would have got a tech. I feel like the only reason I didn’t get a tech is because he knew he was in the wrong. So, yeah, I just felt disrespected.”

Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, center, pulls up for a shot over Thunder center Chet Holmgren, left, during the first half of Game 2 on Thurday night.

(Nate Billings / Associated Press)

In reality, the Lakers couldn’t stop the other Thunder players who took over with Gilgeous-Alexander on the bench. Chet Holmgren had 22 points, nine rebounds, four steals and two blocks while Ajay Mitchell had 20 points.

When Gilgeous-Alexander went to the bench with his fourth foul with 10:34 left in the third quarter, Holmgren and Mitchell helped the Thunder open a 13-point lead entering the fourth.

“No, I mean, we gotta get better,” Redick said. “I’m just letting you know how the game was officiated. We didn’t lose because of the refs. That’s never the case. You don’t lose because of refs. You lose because the other team outplays you. And Oklahoma City outplayed us.”

Note: Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt was downgraded out for Game 2 because of a dislocated right pinkie finger. Redick said Wednesday that Vanderbilt is considered day-to-day.