For one half, the Lakers made Game 3 feel like a response. For one half, Los Angeles looked alive at home, the crowd had something to grab onto, and Oklahoma City’s perfect postseason run finally seemed to have a little traffic in front of it.
Then the Thunder did what the Thunder keep doing: they turned halftime into a launchpad.
Oklahoma City beat the Lakers 131-108 on Saturday night in Los Angeles, taking a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals and improving to 7-0 in these playoffs. The Lakers led by two at halftime, but the Thunder outscored them 74-49 after the break, turning a competitive game into another reminder that OKC’s second-half gear is not normal.
Ajay Mitchell led Oklahoma City with 24 points and 10 assists, including 18 points after halftime, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 23 points and nine assists. Chet Holmgren had 18 points and nine rebounds, and the Thunder shot 56.4% from the field while making 17 threes.
The Lakers had moments, but not enough answers. Rui Hachimura led them with 21 points, while LeBron James finished with 19 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Los Angeles also committed 17 turnovers, which became 30 Oklahoma City points.
What makes the Thunder so exhausting is that they do not need one perfect superhero night. They win by committee, by pressure, by depth, by pace, by making opponents defend every second like the floor is tilting. The Lakers could survive a few minutes. They could not survive 48.
Now Game 4 arrives Monday in Los Angeles, with the Lakers facing the edge of elimination and NBA history stacked against them. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series.
