Thunder steamroll Lakers in Game 3, move within one win of conference finals
SLUG: thunder-roll-past-lakers-game-3-2026-west-semifinals
CONTENT:
LOS ANGELES — May 9, 2026 — The Oklahoma City Thunder overwhelmed the Los Angeles Lakers 131-108 on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena, seizing a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals and extending their undefeated postseason run to 7-0.
The defending NBA champions are the first team since the 2017 Cleveland Cavaliers to open a playoff campaign with seven straight victories. Game 4 is set for Monday in Los Angeles, where the Lakers will try to avoid their first second-round sweep since 2011.
Early fight, late fade
Los Angeles stayed close through two quarters despite scoring only six points in the paint while surrendering 16. After trailing 31-25 at the end of the first period, the Lakers rode a hot second quarter—highlighted by a Luke Kennard three-pointer—to outscore Oklahoma City by eight and carry a 59-57 edge into halftime.
Rui Hachimura, who finished 4-for-5 from deep, reached 64 career playoff three-pointers with the Lakers, passing Sasha Vujačić for ninth on the franchise’s postseason list. Vujačić served as the team’s honorary captain for the night.
Turnovers tip the balance
The game unraveled for Los Angeles in the third quarter. The Lakers committed more turnovers (four) than made field goals (three) during the period, an area head coach JJ Redick had stressed after Game 2. A brief 7-0 spurt trimmed the deficit to five, but Isaiah Joe drilled consecutive threes to rebuild a double-digit cushion, and the Thunder closed the quarter up 96-83 after scoring 28 points off Laker miscues.
Oklahoma City never looked back, maintaining a double-figure margin throughout the final 12 minutes. Austin Reaves did not record a second-half point until a three-point play with just under 10 minutes to go, and Redick emptied his bench in the closing minutes; forward Jake LaRavia did not appear.
Historical headwind
NBA history offers little comfort for Los Angeles. Teams that lead 2-0 in a best-of-seven series advance 92 percent of the time, and no club has ever erased a 3-0 deficit. Saturday marked the 11th time in LeBron James’ career he has been down 2-0; he is 3-7 in those series, with three comebacks on his résumé.
Tip-off for Game 4 is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PT on Monday.
Source: LakersNation.com
