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NBA·May 7, 2026 10:51 PM ET

Lakers lead Thunder at halftime of Game 2 in second-round playoff series

L.A. answers Game 1 loss with strong first half.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated May 82 min read
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Los Angeles LakersNBA
via SportsCenter

What happened: The Los Angeles Lakers carried a halftime lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series, according to @SportsCenter. Los Angeles trailed by four after the first quarter before responding with a 7-0 run capped by a Rui Hachimura buzzer-beater. The Lakers entered the game down 0-1 after dropping Game 1 on the road.

Why it matters: A road win would even the series and reclaim home-court advantage for the Lakers, who lost Game 1 to the Thunder earlier this week. Oklahoma City had dominated the regular-season meetings, including blowout wins by 36 and 43 points, making any Lakers lead a meaningful shift in the series narrative. LeBron James also became the first player in NBA history to appear in 300 career playoff games during this stretch.

What to watch: Watch whether Los Angeles can sustain its halftime lead against an OKC team that has repeatedly pulled away in second halves this season. A Lakers win would send the series back to Los Angeles tied 1-1.

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