NBA: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder eke out sweep-sealing win over Lakers

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points to lead the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder to a 115-110 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, completing a four-game sweep and advancing to the Western Conference Finals. The loss could mark the final game in Los Angeles for LeBron James.

Ajay Mitchell added 28 points, Chet Holmgren finished with 16 points and nine rebounds, and Jared McCain contributed 13 points as Oklahoma City remained unbeaten in the playoffs at 8-0. The Thunder will face either the Minnesota Timberwolves or the San Antonio Spurs in the next round.

The defending NBA champions shot 51.9% from the field, slightly ahead of the Lakers’ 50.7%. Oklahoma City also dominated the season series, winning all eight matchups against Los Angeles during the 2025-26 campaign.

Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 27 points, while Rui Hachimura posted 25 points and eight rebounds. Los Angeles now heads into an offseason filled with uncertainty.

James, 41, recorded 24 points and 12 rebounds. The four-time NBA champion is set to become an unrestricted free agent after completing a record 23-season career.

Jaxson Hayes added 18 points for the Lakers, who played the entire postseason without Luka Doncic due to a hamstring injury sustained on April 2 in Oklahoma City.

The Thunder sealed the victory in the closing seconds. Gilgeous-Alexander hit two free throws with 12.2 seconds remaining to give Oklahoma City a 113-110 lead, and Mitchell followed with two free throws with 6.4 seconds left. Reaves missed a potential game-tying three-pointer with eight seconds remaining.

Los Angeles had surged late in the third quarter, erasing a 12-point deficit with a 22-9 run to take a 76-75 lead. They carried an 84-80 advantage into the fourth quarter and later led 110-109 after a four-point play from Hachimura and a three-point play from Marcus Smart.

However, Holmgren answered with a dunk to put the Thunder ahead 111-110 with 32.8 seconds left. James missed a floater in the final 20 seconds, and the Lakers were unable to recover as late three-point attempts from Reaves and Smart failed to fall.

— Field Level Media / Reuters