The Oklahoma City Thunder surged late to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 125-107 in their Western Conference semifinal matchup, taking a 2-0 lead in the high-stakes NBA playoff series.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, last season's NBA MVP and a leading candidate again this year, scored 22 points. The Thunder capitalized on 21 Lakers turnovers to beat LeBron James in his 300th playoff game. In the other matchup, the Eastern Conference top-seeded Detroit Pistons defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 107-97 at home to go up 2-0.
In Oklahoma City, Gilgeous-Alexander was not at his best but received ample support. Chet Holmgren contributed 22 points and nine rebounds, Ajay Mitchell added 20 points, and Jared McCain scored 18 off the bench, helping the Thunder withstand a 31-point performance from Lakers' Austin Reaves.
James, who became the first player to appear in 300 playoff games, finished with 23 points and six assists. The Lakers led by five early in the third quarter, but with Luka Doncic—the league's leading scorer—still sidelined by injury, they could not hold the advantage. The Thunder went on a 22-5 run to regain control and will look to apply even more pressure as the series shifts to Los Angeles.
“We had to be the aggressor,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I felt they were playing harder, attacking more, making quicker decisions, and playing with more urgency in the first half. As long as we take care of that, we'll be in good shape.”
The physical contest left both teams frustrated with the officials. Gilgeous-Alexander was assessed a flagrant foul, and he and James both tumbled under the basket after a foul by Reaves. Lakers coach JJ Redick criticized the referees, saying the Thunder “have a few players who foul on every possession,” but acknowledged, “We didn't lose because of the refs.”
In Detroit, Cade Cunningham scored 12 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and dished out 10 assists to lead the Pistons. They established their defense early but needed a late fourth-quarter push to reclaim the lead after the Cavaliers went up by two. “I just wanted to win the game,” Cunningham said. “The ball was in my hands and I had to make plays. The pressure and the moment—it's high… all that fuels me.”
Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points, Jarrett Allen added 22, but James Harden managed just 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting, and his four turnovers included a critical one in the final minute. The Pistons, who earned the East's top seed with the league's third-best record, had to fight back from a 3-1 deficit against the Orlando Magic in the first round. “We have to elevate our energy even more” in Cleveland, Cunningham said. “They're a tough team to beat at home.”
