The NBA playoffs continued as the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a heartbreaking defeat to end their season. Despite all three of Austin Reaves, LeBron James, and Rui Hachimura scoring over 20 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered 33 points and 8 assists, and Chet Holmgren’s clutch dunk in the fourth quarter gave the Thunder the lead. Austin Reaves missed a potential game-tying three-pointer, and the Lakers fell 110-115 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals at home. The Thunder completed a 4-0 sweep to advance to the Western Conference Finals, where they will face the winner of the series between the San Antonio Spurs and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
For the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 35 points and 8 assists, while Mitchell added 28 points and 4 assists. Chet Holmgren contributed 16 points and 9 rebounds, McCann had 13 points, and Caruso added 9 points and 4 rebounds. Hartenstein recorded 5 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists. For the Lakers, Austin Reaves scored 27 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and dished out 6 assists. Rui Hachimura had 25 points and 5 rebounds, LeBron James posted 24 points and 12 rebounds, and Hayes added 18 points and 5 rebounds.
The Lakers were again without Luka Doncic. The game started with both teams trading leads. A 7-0 run by the Thunder, sparked by a three-pointer from Dort, gave them a 14-8 advantage. After a timeout, Reaves scored 5 straight points to spark a 9-0 Lakers run, taking the lead. Caruso hit a three to tie it at 19, but Reaves answered with a three, and LeBron and Hayes added scores to close the first quarter with a 26-21 Lakers lead.
Caruso stayed hot in the second quarter, hitting two more threes to ignite a 17-0 Thunder run, giving them a 12-point lead. LeBron made two free throws to stop the bleeding, and Reaves added four points from the line and field to cut the deficit to 36-42 with 3:15 left in the half. Holmgren dunked, but the Lakers responded with four straight points. Alexander and Holmgren scored to stabilize the Thunder, LeBron hit a mid-range jumper, Hartenstein split free throws, and Hayes made two free throws, leaving the Thunder leading 49-45 at halftime.
Alexander led the Thunder at halftime with 14 points and 4 assists, while Caruso had 9 points. For the Lakers, Reaves had 15 points and 3 rebounds, LeBron 10 points and 6 rebounds, and Hayes 10 points.
Early in the third quarter, Mitchell scored back-to-back baskets to push the Thunder lead to 55-47. Hachimura answered with a three, but Mitchell and Alexander combined for 6 points to make it 63-52. Ayton scored inside, and Wallace hit a three to extend the Thunder lead. After a Lakers timeout, LeBron made one of two free throws, and Hachimura hit a three to cut the deficit to single digits. Alexander then scored 5 straight points, but LeBron responded with two threes. Kennard also hit a three, and Reaves made three free throws to bring the Lakers within 72-73 with 3 minutes left in the quarter.
Alexander hit a mid-range jumper, Reaves scored four points from the line and a drive, giving the Lakers a 76-75 lead. Mitchell drove for a score, and Hayes and Kennard added baskets to make it 82-79 Lakers. Alexander split free throws, Reaves missed a drive, and Hayes tipped in a putback to give the Lakers an 84-80 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The teams traded baskets to start the final period. LeBron scored on a runner to make it 89-84 Lakers. The Thunder called a timeout, and McCann responded with a three. Reaves answered with a tough three, but McCann hit another three, and the Thunder tied the game at 92 with a 5-0 run. A Lakers turnover led to an and-one from Mitchell, giving the Thunder the lead. Hachimura hit a mid-range jumper to answer, and the teams continued to trade scores. Alexander hit a three from the left wing with 3:55 left to put the Thunder up 102-98.
Hachimura hit a three to answer, and Holmgren scored inside to maintain a four-point lead. Hachimura missed a driving layup, and Holmgren slammed home an alley-oop to push the Thunder lead to six. Hachimura then stepped up again, hitting a corner three while drawing a foul on Holmgren. He made the free throw to cut the deficit to 107-109. Alexander turned the ball over, but Hayes missed a fastbreak layup. Mitchell missed a three, and Smart drove for a score while drawing a foul on Holmgren. He made the free throw to give the Lakers a 110-109 lead with 40.9 seconds left.
After a Thunder timeout, Holmgren dunked off a roll to put the Thunder up 111-110 with 32.8 seconds remaining. The Lakers called timeout, but LeBron missed a driving floater, and Hartenstein grabbed the rebound. Reaves fouled Alexander intentionally, and Alexander made both free throws to make it 113-110 with 12.2 seconds left. The Lakers called another timeout, but Reaves missed a three from the left wing. Caruso secured the rebound, and the Thunder called timeout. Mitchell was fouled and made both free throws to make the final score 115-110. Smart missed a three, and the Lakers fell.
Thunder starting lineup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Mitchell, Dort, Hartenstein, Holmgren
Lakers starting lineup: Reaves, Smart, LeBron, Hachimura, Ayton
