Fans of the Los Angeles Lakers (5-3) and Brooklyn Nets (5-3) can take their hands away from the panic button, at least for now. The favorites to meet in the NBA Finals have rebounded after getting off to slow starts in the 2021-2022 season.

Since losing three of their first five games, the Lakers have put together a three-game winning streak. L.A. heads into Thursday night’s matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder (1-6) as the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference.

Brooklyn also has a three-game winning streak after a 2-3 start, moving up in the standings to the No. 5 spot in the Eastern Conference. The Nets picked up their best win of the young season Wednesday night, defeating the Atlanta Hawks (4-4) 117-108.

Kevin Durant led Brooklyn with 32 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Durant’s 28.3 points per game are good for second in the NBA, and his 59.2% shooting is second-best among all 29 players who are scoring more than 20 points per game. As long as Durant stays healthy, the Nets should continue to win games at a high rate.

James Harden is averaging 21 points, 7.3 rebounds and 10.3 assists per game during Brooklyn’s winning streak. Harden, a perennial MVP candidate, was among the league’s least efficient players in the Nets’ first five games.

Kyrie Irving remains away from the team, and it’s unknown if he’ll suit up for Brookyln at any point this season.

Los Angeles’ Big 3 has been intact all season, with the exception of LeBron James missing two games with an ankle injury. The trio of James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook remains a work in progress, though there are reasons to be hopeful. In a small sample size, the Lakers are dominating opponents when the three superstars play together and they don’t have a true center on the court.

James and Davis have nearly identical scoring averages, putting up a combined 49.8 points per game. Davis leads the Lakers with 11.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. James is averaging 7 assists and 2.3 steals per game.

Westbrook struggled mightily in his first week as a Laker. The point guard averaged 17.8 points and 6 turnovers through five games with more shot attempts than points scored. Westbrook is averaging 22 points, 7.7 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 turnovers while shooting 48.2% from the field in three straight wins.

The Lakers still have much more to prove, considering two of those victories came against the Houston Rockets (1-6), who are tied for the league’s second-worst record. Oklahoma City would be winless if it wasn’t for its 26-point comeback against Los Angeles.

The Lakers won’t play a team in the current playoff picture until Wednesday when they host the No. 1 seed Miami Heat.

Kevin Durant Giannis Nets Bucks
Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets is defended by Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half of Game Three of the Eastern Conference second round playoff series at the Fiserv Forum on June 10, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Stacy Revere/Getty Images
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