|
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell each added 18 points
for the Thunder. The defending champions improved to 5-0 in the
playoffs, despite missing 2025 All-Star Jalen Williams with an
injured left hamstring for the third straight game. The Thunder
shot 49.4% from the field and made 13 of 30 3-pointers.
Oklahoma City will host Game 2 on Thursday.
Los Angeles struggled to find offense without scoring champion
Luka Doncic, who has missed the past month with an injured left
hamstring. LeBron James scored 27 points and Rui Hachimura added
18 for the Lakers. Austin Reaves, who averaged 23.3 points in
the regular season, was held to eight on 3-for-16 shooting.
Oklahoma City won all four regular-season matchups by an average
of 29.3 points, and this one was only slightly closer. The
Thunder held the Lakers to 41.7% shooting and forced 17
turnovers.
The Lakers ran out to a 7-0 lead, with James scoring five of the
points. Eventually, the Thunder shook off the rust from an
eight-day break and went up 31-26 at the end of the first
quarter, despite 12 points from James.
Holmgren's two-handed alley-oop dunk on a lob from Isaiah
Hartenstein put the Thunder up 48-39. Lakers forward Jarred
Vanderbilt injured the pinkie finger on his right hand on the
play, left the game and did not return.
Oklahoma City led 61-53 at halftime, despite 16 points from
James.
Mitchell, who started in Williams' place, made a corner
3-pointer and was fouled by Marcus Smart in the final minute of
the third quarter. His free throw put the Thunder up 84-72, a
score that held up until the end of the period.
Alex Caruso's fast-break dunk early in the fourth put Oklahoma
City up 88-73, and the Thunder maintained control from there.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights
reserved |
|
