The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 108-90 on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 (Philippine time), in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals series in the NBA Playoffs.
Holmgren Leads the Charge
Chet Holmgren powered the Thunder with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Ajay Mitchell and reigning regular season and Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander each added 18 points.
The Thunder remain undefeated in the playoffs, having swept the Phoenix Suns 4-0 in the first round.
Game Dynamics
After dominating the Lakers twice in the regular season, the Thunder faced stiff competition in the first three quarters. However, Jared McCain hit back-to-back three-pointers early in the fourth quarter, shifting the momentum. McCain finished with 12 points, all from beyond the arc, helping the Thunder pull away in the middle of the fourth quarter.
Lakers Without Doncic
The Lakers, still competing without season leading scorer Luka Doncic, were led by LeBron James with 27 points. Rui Hachimura added 18 points, Marcus Smart contributed 12 points, and DeAndre Ayton chipped in 10 points for Los Angeles.
