Oklahoma Metropolis owns a 2-0 lead because the sequence strikes to Los Angeles for the following two video games.
The Los Angeles Lakers led the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder at halftime and had a five-point lead early within the third quarter.
It regarded just like the Lakers had been taking part in nicely sufficient to make it anybody’s recreation within the fourth quarter. That didn’t occur as a result of the Thunder did what they’ve carried out all season – management the third quarter.
The Thunder owned the league’s greatest third-quarter internet score in the course of the common season, outscoring opponents by 10.9 factors per 100 possessions.
By the point the third quarter ended, the Thunder had been up 13 factors – and on their method to a 125-107 victory over the Lakers in Recreation 2 of their Western Convention semifinal sequence Thursday.
Already the NBA’s chief in profession playoff appearances, Lakers star LeBron James turned the primary participant in league historical past to play in 300 playoff video games. James, who took a few falls and favored his proper hip space and proper wrist, completed with 23 factors, six assists and three steals.
Oklahoma Metropolis owns a 2-0 lead because the sequence strikes to Los Angeles for the following two video games. Recreation 3 is Saturday (8:30 ET, ABC).
1. Thunder guards excel
After scoring 18 factors in Recreation 1, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who owns the NBA file with 140 consecutive regular-season video games with at the very least 20 factors, navigated foul bother and contributed with 22 factors. The Lakers proceed to ship double groups at Gilgeous-Alexander and attempt to pressure him to go.
The Thunder have the depth and expertise to resist atypical video games from Gilgeous-Alexander, the 2024-25 Kia MVP, 2025 Finals MVP and a finalist for regular-season MVP in 2025-26.
Ajay Mitchell, who moved into the beginning lineup with Jalen Williams (strained left hamstring) out, had 20 factors and six assists, and Jared McCain scored 18 factors in 18 minutes.
Mitchell was the 38th choose within the second spherical of the 2024 NBA Draft and performed in simply 12 of Oklahoma Metropolis’s 23 playoff video games as a rookie final season. He’s now an important a part of the rotation.
McCain, the No. 16 choose within the 2024 Draft, wasn’t on Oklahoma Metropolis’s roster firstly of the season. The Thunder acquired him from Philadelphia in a February commerce deadline deal. After 12 factors off the bench in Recreation 1, he scored a playoff-career excessive in Recreation 2, going 7-for-11 from the sphere and 4-for-5 on 3-pointers. His efficiency was a part of the Thunder bench that outscored the Lakers’ reserves 48-20.
2. Holmgren comes up massive once more
Thunder center-forward Chet Holmgren made his first two 3-point pictures and scored 22 factors on 11 pictures. It wasn’t simply his scoring. He had 9 rebounds, 4 steals, three assists and two blocks.
Within the game-changing third quarter with Gilgeous-Alexander restricted to 2 minutes due to foul bother, Holmgren had eight factors, two rebounds and two steals.
“I believed he was unbelievable,” stated Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. “He’s the final word winner anyhow, however he was the final word winner tonight. He performed nearly the entire third quarter and was an enormous a part of that run.
“His offensive rebounding and defensive rebounding – his nostril was within the combat down there. He went and obtained the ball. He had well timed ones for us offensively late. Confirmed off his ability together with his capturing. There’s nothing he can’t do, and when the lights are on, he’s at his greatest.”
Teammate Isaiah Hartenstein had 10 factors, 9 rebounds, two steals and two blocks, and Hartenstein and Holmgren, who had 24 factors and 12 rebounds within the sequence opener, mixed for seven of Oklahoma Metropolis’s 9 offensive rebounds, resulting in a 17-6 benefit in second-chance factors.
“They’ve killed us in each video games – each time they’ve gotten an offensive rebound, they’ve scored,” stated Lakers coach JJ Redick.
3. Reaves finds scoring, Hachimura continues scorching capturing
Lakers guard Austin Reaves bounced again from a tough capturing efficiency in Recreation 1. Enjoying in his fourth recreation since sustaining strained indirect muscular tissues in opposition to Oklahoma Metropolis on April 2, Reaves scored a game-high 31 factors on 10-for-16 capturing from the sphere and 3-for-6 on 3-pointers.
“He did job touching the paint and people contact pictures had been there. Received some attractiveness from 3,” Redick stated. “He performed a strong recreation.”
Los Angeles ahead Rui Hachimura scored 16 factors and made 4-for-7 3-pointers and is capturing 57.1% on 3-pointers within the playoffs (24-for-42), together with 7-for-13 in opposition to the Thunder.
4. Turnovers an issue for Lakers once more
The Lakers shot 50% from the sphere and 37.9% on 3-pointers. However turnovers, mixed with Oklahoma Metropolis’s offensive rebounds, made it troublesome for the Lakers to remain shut and make it a good recreation within the remaining minutes.
Los Angeles dedicated 21 turnovers, resulting in 26 Thunder factors. That’s Oklahoma Metropolis’s model – pressuring ball-handlers and changing turnovers into factors. In the course of the common season, the Thunder had been No. 2 in opponent turnovers per recreation and No. 1 in factors off turnovers per recreation.
“You can begin seeing some tendencies right here,” Redick stated. “We most likely want to return to the 2 keys we had in opposition to Houston (within the first spherical) which is care for the ball and field out.”
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Jeff Zillgitt has lined the NBA since 2008. You’ll be able to e-mail him at jzillgitt@nba.com, discover his archive right here and follow him on X.