In a must-win Game 4 of the NBA playoffs on May 12, the Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder 115-110 at home, completing a 0-4 series sweep. With Luka Doncic sidelined due to injury, the Lakers needed an exceptional performance to extend the series, but ultimately came up short.
This marked the Lakers’ eighth matchup against the Thunder this season, including four regular-season games and four playoff contests. The Lakers lost all seven previous meetings, averaging a 25-point deficit per game. Many analysts predicted this outcome after the Lakers barely escaped the first round against the Rockets. LeBron James managed to lead a depleted roster past Houston, but the Thunder proved to be an insurmountable challenge.
The Lakers showed promise in the first quarter, playing with aggression. Austin Reaves hit the team’s first three-pointer after five misses, scoring 8 points on 3-of-3 shooting in the period. LeBron added two difficult fadeaway jumpers, and the Lakers led 26-21 after the first quarter.
However, the Lakers collapsed in the second quarter. They committed turnovers and missed shots, going 0-for-9 over nearly six minutes while the Thunder went on a 17-0 run to take a double-digit lead. LeBron ended the drought with two free throws, and the Lakers rallied to trail 45-49 at halftime, with Reaves scoring 15 and LeBron 10.
The third quarter saw the Thunder push the lead back to double digits. LeBron and Reaves responded, and the Lakers hit several three-pointers. LeBron nailed a deep triple, and the Lakers benefited from favorable officiating, with Reaves drawing multiple fouls. The teams traded leads, and a putback dunk by Jaxson Hayes gave the Lakers an 84-80 edge heading into the fourth.
With 6:30 left in the game, the score was tied at 92. Davion Mitchell drew a foul on Marcus Smart and completed a three-point play. Smart then committed an offensive foul, Rui Hachimura hit a mid-range jumper, Chet Holmgren scored on a putback dunk, and Hayes answered with a dunk of his own. In the clutch, Hachimura converted a rare three-plus-one to make it 107-109 Thunder with 1:40 remaining. Smart then scored a three-point play to give the Lakers a 110-109 lead. After a timeout, Chet scored on a dunk under pressure, LeBron missed a strong drive, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hit two free throws, and the Lakers were in trouble. The final score was 115-110.
For the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 35 points and 8 assists, Davion Mitchell added 28 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists, and Chet Holmgren contributed 16 points and 9 rebounds. For the Lakers, LeBron James had 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 assists, Rui Hachimura scored 25 points with 5 rebounds and 2 assists, and Jaxson Hayes chipped in 18 points and 5 rebounds. However, Austin Reaves, despite posting 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, committed 8 turnovers and 5 fouls, and his overall playoff performance—losing 5 of 6 games—has drawn heavy criticism, with many questioning whether he deserves a large contract.
