Thunder 115, Lakers 110: The Day After Report
OKC wins series 4-0
PHOTO⚡THUNDER | NBA Play-by-Play | CourtSketch Box Score
Postgame Bolts
- OKC’s first bucket has been a Lu Dort 3-pointer in five of eight playoff games.
- This has been a far more effective strategy than the Perk Punt possession the first era of Thunder basketball used to run.
- The Lakers shot six free throws in the first quarter. The Thunder shot zero.
- Alex Caruso’s first four minutes: nine points on 3-of-3 shooting from deep. Caruso didn’t score again the rest of the game, but he was his usual monster self defensively.
- OKC outscored LA 17-0 to open the second quarter. That is not a typo.
- SGA shot OKC’s first free throws of the game with 6:35 to go in the first half.
- The Lakers mugged SGA off ball and on ball all series.
- Despite evidence to the contrary, I don’t believe that meant he could’ve elbowed LA defenders in response.
- Jalen Williams wore a Bon Jovi tee for Game 4.
- Top 5 Bon Jovi Songs:Livin’ on a PrayerWanted Dead or AliveBlaze of GloryBad MedicineYou Give Love a Bad Name
- Yeah, I know “Blaze of Glory” is a Jon Bon Jovi solo song, but it was in Young Guns II, so I’m counting it on principle.
- It’s unbelievable OKC won a championship with a player the caliber of Ajay Mitchell just chilling on the bench.
- A courtside fan got his beer knocked out of his hand by an errant ball. So, I had to Google “how much does a beer cost at a Lakers game?” and in case anyone was wondering, the guy got at least $15 worth of beer spilled on his pants. That’s about the same price I paid for the pants I’m wearing while typing this.
- Eddie Murphy was sitting courtside for Game 4.
- Top 5 Eddie Murphy Movies:Coming to AmericaTrading PlacesBeverly Hills CopShrekDolemite Is My Name
- Game 4 was the first time in the 2026 playoffs that OKC trailed in the fourth quarter.
- Jared McCain came out with a quick trigger in the fourth quarter, and it paid off big time. JMac hit two huge 3s that completely swung the momentum back to the Thunder in a game that looked like it was slipping away. I’d argue that was the turning point in the game, and OKC may not win without those buckets.
- Ajay Mitchell hit a ridiculous hopscotch jumper over Marcus Smart — literally. He had to jump over Smart as he fell to the ground and still somehow knocked down the shot.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30+ points for the fourth time in eight playoff games.
- Easily the best game of the series for SGA: 35 points on 11-of-22 shooting, eight assists, and big buckets plus all the right plays in clutch time to close the series.
- SGA did that Clutch Player of the Year thing in OKC’s only clutch-time playoff game so far.
- Chet Holmgren’s box score won’t jump out at you, and he was quiet for the majority of the game. But he came up huge down the stretch. Chet had the game-clinching dunk as he pivoted between LeBron James and Austin Reaves to put OKC up for good at 111-110.
- The game ended around 12:30 a.m., so Thunder fans may be completely miserable at work or school on Tuesday morning. Game 4 was worth it.
- Fun, entertaining game in which both teams just exchanged blows back and forth.
- The Thunder outscored the Lakers 35-26 in the fourth quarter and made all the clutch plays to win it.
- The Oklahoma City Thunder are headed to the Western Conference Finals for the sixth time in the past 16 seasons.
- That mark ties the Golden State Warriors for the most in the West over that span.
- Have to give credit to the Lakers and JJ Redick. No Luka. Facing the best and deepest team in the NBA. But every game was close at halftime, and the final game came down to the final moments. I really think Redick coached a great series, and the Lakers competed hard all series.
- Ajay Mitchell in Game 4:
- 28 points
- 12-of-19 FG
- 4 assists
- 4 steals
- SGA postgame on Ajay Mitchell: “It’s been amazing. You could say he’s been our best player this series.”
- The Thunder are now 8-0 in the playoffs after back-to-back sweeps.
- Up next: One week off before the Western Conference Finals against either the Spurs or Wolves.
One Key Takeaway
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