The Thunder make timely shots down the stretch as they complete a series sweep of the Lakers.
One team remains unbeaten headed into the NBA’s conference finals.
That’s the Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending champions and No. 1 seed in the Western Conference who eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers with a 115-110 victory in Game 4 Monday.
It was Los Angeles’ most complete four-quarter effort, and it still wasn’t enough. The Thunder again had too many options with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell in the backcourt, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein in the frontcourt and Jared McCain and Alex Caruso off the bench.
Holmgren’s dunk with 33 seconds left put the Thunder up 111-110, and Gilgeous-Alexander, who hit the 30-point mark for the first time in the series, made two free throws with 12.2 seconds remaining for a 113-110 Thunder lead.
Austin Reaves missed a 3-pointer, and Mitchell, the Thunder’s breakout star in the playoffs, secured the victory with two free throws. The Thunder will play the winner of the Minnesota Timberwolves-San Antonio Spurs series in the Western Conference final. Here are 4 takeaways:
1. Thunder guards excel again
Mitchell’s outstanding production in the playoffs continued with a playoff career-high 28 points on 12-for-19 shooting, four assists, four steals and three rebounds.
That followed up his 24-point, 10-assist effort in Game 3.
Mitchell’s performance has helped the Thunder overcome the absence of Jalen Williams (left hamstring strain) who hasn’t played since Game 2 of the first round against Phoenix.
Mitchell excelled in transition and with his midrange game, averaging 22.5 points on 56.3% shooting against the Lakers.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the 2024-25 MVP and finalist for the award this season, scored 35 points (12 on free throws) and had eight assists.
McCain, who the Thunder acquired from Philadelphia in a February trade deadline move, scored 13 points, and Caruso had nine points, four rebounds and two steals.
2. Lakers’ strong effort falls short
The Lakers reversed some trends that troubled them in the first three games. They played a much better second half, outscored the Thunder in the third quarter for the first time in the series and had a chance to win late in the fourth quarter. Los Angeles neutralized Oklahoma City’s depth and limited Holmgren until late in the game.
“We did not expect them to give us an unearned win,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.
Turnovers remained an issue as the Thunder turned 19 Lakers turnovers into 22 points.
LeBron James had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and Austin Reaves overcame his Game 3 struggles with 27 points, seven rebounds, six assists, two blocks and eight turnovers.
Rui Hachimura was a bright spot with his shooting throughout the series, and he scored 25 points on 9-for-15 shooting. He shot 55.2% on 3s in the series.
Jaxson Hayes contributed 18 points.
“There were two different times during the game where our team could have gave in, could have let go of the rope. We didn’t,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.
3. Holmgren, Hartenstein shine
Holmgren scored eight of 16 points in the final 5:10 of the fourth quarter, and his dunk on an assist from Hartenstein with 32.8 seconds remaining turned out to be the winning shot. He also had nine rebounds.
Hartenstein had just five points but grabbed 10 rebounds, delivered five assists and generated five steals, and in his 28 minutes, Oklahoma City outscored the Lakers by 30 points.
4. What is the future for James, Lakers?
Luka Dončić , who missed the playoffs because of hamstring strain suffered April 2 against the Thunder, Austin Reaves, Jarred Vanderbilt, Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, Marcus Smart, Dalton Knecht, Nick Smith (team option), Bronny James and Adou Thiero are under contract for next season. Reaves, Smart and Ayton have player options.
Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard, Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber are free agents, as is James.
What will James do? Retire? Re-sign with the Lakers? Join another team?
At 41 years old, James can still play at a high level, and his future is one of the NBA’s biggest offseason storylines.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me, obviously, as it stands right now tonight,” James said. “I’ll sit back – like I think I said it last year after we lost to Minnesota there – go back and recalibrate with my family, and talk with them, and spend some time with them, and then when the time comes, obviously, you guys will know what I decided to do.”
He said his family and their thoughts will play a significant role in his decision.
Redick doesn’t know what the roster will look like next season.
“You have to be realistic and assess where you’re at, and we’re not good enough right now,” he said. “There probably will be some continuity. There probably won’t be, but that’s what the next two months are for.”
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Jeff Zillgitt has covered the NBA since 2008. You can email him at jzillgitt@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.
