Thunder roll past Lakers in Game 1 of West semifinals


OKLAHOMA CITY — Chet Holmgren had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and the Oklahoma City Thunder routed the Los Angeles Lakers 108-90 on Tuesday night in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell each added 18 points for the Thunder. The defending champions improved to 5-0 in the playoffs, despite missing 2025 All-Star Jalen Williams with an injured left hamstring for the third straight game. The Thunder shot 49.4% from the field and made 13 of 30 3-pointers.

Oklahoma City will host Game 2 on Thursday.

Los Angeles struggled to find offense without scoring champion Luka Doncic, who has missed the past month with an injured left hamstring. LeBron James scored 27 points and Rui Hachimura added 18 for the Lakers. Austin Reaves, who averaged 23.3 points in the regular season, was held to eight on 3-for-16 shooting.

Oklahoma City won all four regular-season matchups by an average of 29.3 points, and this one was only slightly closer. The Thunder held the Lakers to 41.7% shooting and forced 17 turnovers.

The Lakers ran out to a 7-0 lead, with James scoring five of the points. Eventually, the Thunder shook off the rust from an eight-day break and went up 31-26 at the end of the first quarter, despite 12 points from James.

Holmgren’s two-handed alley-oop dunk on a lob from Isaiah Hartenstein put the Thunder up 48-39. Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt injured the pinkie on his right hand on the play, left the game and did not return.

Oklahoma City led 61-53 at halftime, despite 16 points from James.

Mitchell, who started in Williams’ place, made a corner 3-pointer and was fouled by Marcus Smart in the final minute of the third quarter. His free throw put the Thunder up 84-72, a score that held up until the end of the period.

Alex Caruso’s fast-break dunk early in the fourth put Oklahoma City up 88-73, and the Thunder maintained control from there.



Source link

  • Related Posts

    WNBA’s Toronto Tempo Sign Yvonne Ejim to Training Camp Roster

    Gonzaga Bulldogs great and two-time West Coast Conference Player of the Year, 6-0 forward Yvonne Ejim, has a chance to make her home country’s WNBA team Toronto Tempo’s inaugural roster.…

    Leigh Halfpenny: The unassuming Welsh rugby great who has hung up his boots

    Back in 2008, a Wales Under-20s side went deep into the Junior World Championship and hinted at what was coming. Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb, Jonathan Davies…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    Lufthansa Reports Narrower Loss, Sees Risks from Fuel Supplies

    Altara secures $7M to bridge the data gap that’s slowing down physical sciences

    Altara secures $7M to bridge the data gap that’s slowing down physical sciences

    WNBA’s Toronto Tempo Sign Yvonne Ejim to Training Camp Roster

    WNBA’s Toronto Tempo Sign Yvonne Ejim to Training Camp Roster

    Trump to pause ‘Project Freedom’

    Trump to pause ‘Project Freedom’

    Stanley Park’s longest resident is being evicted after more than 30 years – BC

    Stanley Park’s longest resident is being evicted after more than 30 years – BC

    More Layoffs Reportedly Hit MindsEye Developer Build a Rocket Boy

    More Layoffs Reportedly Hit MindsEye Developer Build a Rocket Boy