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.