Thunder Take 3-0 Lead in NBA Playoff Series Against Lakers

Oklahoma City Thunder Defeat Los Angeles Lakers 131-108 in Game 3

The Oklahoma City Thunder secured a convincing 131-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their Western Conference second-round series on Saturday. The Thunder’s Ajay Mitchell scored 24 points, with 18 coming in the second half.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 23 points and nine assists for the Thunder, while Chet Holmgren contributed 18 points and nine rebounds. Cason Wallace also had 16 points off the bench. The Lakers’ Rui Hachimura scored a team-high 21 points, with LeBron James adding 19 points, eight assists, and six rebounds.

The Thunder trailed by two points at halftime but dominated the second half, outscoring the Lakers 74-49. Luke Kennard had 18 points off the bench for the Lakers, while Austin Reaves added 17 points and nine assists.

The Thunder’s victory has given them a commanding 3-0 lead in the series, with the opportunity to complete the sweep in Game 4 on Monday. The Lakers are now 0-7 this season against Oklahoma City, with an average losing margin of 25.1 points.

Oklahoma City shot 56.4 percent from the field, including 17 of 38 from three-point range. Isaiah Hartenstein had 12 points and nine rebounds for the Thunder, while Luguentz Dort added 10 points. The Lakers committed 17 turnovers, leading to 30 Oklahoma City points.

The Thunder’s coach has expressed confidence in his team’s abilities, with Mitchell stating that “the confidence I got from my teammates and our coaching staff has been amazing.” The Lakers’ coach, JJ Redick, acknowledged the Thunder’s strength, saying “they are an incredible basketball team.”

Source: Al Jazeera