The Oklahoma City Thunder continue to show why they’re the team to beat in the NBA Playoffs, achieving their fifth-straight win with a 108-90 Game 1 victory over LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
That came after this OKC team easily handled business in the first round, sending Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns home after a 4-0 sweep. In last night’s first game of their second-round series, LeBron James couldn’t shoulder the scoring load for his team, and without Luka Doncic in the lineup, he seems incapable of winning on his own.
Meanwhile, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, dropped a surprising 18 points in his team’s opening win. That’s the first time SGA scored under 20 points since May 2025, which was Game 3 of the 2025 Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
And the Thunder won that series, before going on to win the NBA Championship, which they seem on track to do once again. So far, no team has looked capable of stopping this juggernaut, even with OKC missing Jalen Williams due to a Grade 1 left hamstring strain injury.
SGA seemed automatic when it comes to scoring at least 20 points, if not much more, in NBA games. He finished second in the league in scoring this past season, averaging 31.1 per game, with multiple 40-point games and a 55-point effort against the Pacers.
It speaks a lot to his ability to score points consistently, but more importantly, his not having to score as much last night displays the talent OKC possesses. Teammates, such as Chet Holmgren, with a team-leading 24, and Ajay Mitchell, with his 18-point contribution, helped this team beat the Lakers.
LeBron James reacted to his team holding SGA under 20, indicating, “We’re down one. This isn’t Shai vs. the Lakers, it’s the Lakers versus Thunder.”
The Lakers superstar recorded 27 points in a losing effort, with Rui Hachimura adding 18. The Lakers shot 41 percent as a team, but Austin Reaves, known for 20-plus point nights, was just 3-for-16 and had eight points.
Luka’s absence is the key, as he was averaging 31 points a night and drawing double teams. When that additional player is not there, SGA and the Thunder’s games become much easier, seemingly guaranteeing their appearance in another Western Conference Finals.