Chet Holmgren had 24 factors and 12 rebounds to guide the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder to a 108-90 residence win over the Los Angeles Lakers to open their second-round playoff collection on Tuesday.
The Thunder remained undefeated within the playoffs, taking a 1-0 benefit within the collection after opening the postseason with a sweep of Phoenix.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell added 18 factors every within the win.
After dropping a pair of blowout losses to Oklahoma Metropolis late within the common season, the Lakers have been nonetheless inside placing distance on this one into the fourth quarter.
But early within the fourth, Jared McCain hit back-to-back 3-pointers to increase the Thunder result in 19 and begin placing the sport away.
McCain, a commerce deadline acquisition, scored 12 factors off the bench as Oklahoma Metropolis’s reserves outscored Los Angeles’ 34-15.
The Lakers’ 90 factors have been their fewest in a postseason recreation since 2021.
As time went down within the third quarter, the Lakers swarmed Gilgeous-Alexander with a trio of defenders.
Within the closing moments of the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander discovered Isaiah Hartenstein, who shortly fed to Mitchell. Mitchell hit a 3-pointer from the wing by way of contact, then hit the free throw to complete off a four-point play and ship the Thunder into the fourth quarter main by 12 after Los Angeles had trimmed the deficit to as little as 4 earlier within the quarter.
LeBron James obtained out to a fast begin offensively, scoring 10 of the Lakers’ first 16 factors.
James completed with 27 factors within the loss, whereas Rui Hachimura scored 18 and DeAndre Ayton had 10 factors and 11 rebounds.
Austin Reeves, who was injured in opposition to the Thunder late within the common season and returned late within the Lakers’ first-round collection vs. Houston, completed with simply eight factors on 3-of-16 capturing.
About halfway by way of the second quarter, Los Angeles’ Jarred Vanderbilt hit his proper hand on the nook of the backboard whereas attempting to defend a Holmgren dunk.
Vanderbilt went down, grabbing the hand, and shortly went to the locker room and didn’t return.
Although James added loads of scoring, he did not file his first rebound till the ultimate minute of the third quarter. He completed with six assists and 4 rebounds.
–Discipline Degree Media
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