What happened
The Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the second half to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 131-108 on Saturday night. Behind a 74-49 surge after halftime, OKC improved to a perfect 7-0 in the 2026 postseason and secured a 3-0 series advantage.
Why it matters
The victory puts the defending champions on the verge of returning to the Western Conference Finals, as no team in NBA history has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit. OKC's depth proved decisive with Ajay Mitchell stepping up in Jalen Williams' absence, while the Lakers continued to miss sidelined star Luka Dončić.
The data edge
Score: OKC 131, LAL 108. Ajay Mitchell: 24 PTS, 10 AST. SGA: 23 PTS, 9 AST. Lakers: Rui Hachimura 21 PTS, LeBron James 19 PTS. Series: OKC leads 3-0. OKC 2026 Playoff Record: 7-0.
What to watch
Game 4 tips off Monday in Los Angeles as the Thunder look to complete the sweep. A win would advance OKC to their second consecutive Western Conference Finals.