Thunder’s depth turns Game 2 tide, pushes champions to 2-0 edge on Lakers
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OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Thunder rode a dominant third-quarter surge by their reserves to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 125-107 on Thursday night, taking a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals and staying unbeaten this postseason.
The defending champions trailed by five when reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander picked up his fourth foul just 1 minute 26 seconds into the second half. Forced to the bench for the remainder of the quarter, he watched as Oklahoma City rattled off a 22-4 run and built a 13-point cushion entering the fourth.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren shared team honors with 22 points apiece. “They strung together stops and played the right way offensively,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “No matter who’s on the floor, we can get the job done.”
Bench ignites decisive push
Rookie guard Ajay Mitchell, elevated to the starting lineup during Jalen Williams’ injury absence, directed the offense in Gilgeous-Alexander’s absence. Mitchell tallied seven of his 20 points and three of his five assists in the third period. “Everyone’s ready to go, and everyone trusts each other,” he said. “When you go out there, you have confidence.”
Jared McCain, the 10th man in Mark Daigneault’s rotation and a deadline pickup from Philadelphia, poured in 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. He hit two triples and a pull-up jumper in just 2:28 as the lead swelled to double figures. “Every time I see him shoot, I think it’s going in,” Holmgren noted.
Holmgren’s all-around imprint
Holmgren added nine rebounds, three assists, four steals and two blocks. Oklahoma City outscored Los Angeles by 19 during his 33 minutes, including an 11-point margin in his 10 third-quarter minutes, when he scored eight.
The Lakers trimmed the deficit to five midway through the fourth, but Holmgren responded with a three-pointer over Deandre Ayton and sank free throws on the next two trips, restoring a double-digit gap that Los Angeles never erased.
Oklahoma City’s defense forced seven Laker turnovers in the third quarter, converting them into 11 points. “We’ve got guys that are competitors,” Daigneault said. “They see the challenges of the game as opportunities, and they attack them.”
The series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 as the Lakers attempt to slow a Thunder squad that has yet to lose in the 2026 playoffs.
Source: ESPN
