Thunder complete sweep of Lakers as OKC advance to Western Conference finals
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 35 points while Chet Holmgren sealed the victory with a late dunk, ending LeBron James' 23rd season without a conference finals appearance for Los Angeles.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers from the NBA playoffs, completing an 8-0 sweep in the second round with a decisive 115-110 victory in Game 4. The result marks a significant institutional milestone for the Thunder, who have now secured their sixth berth in the Western Conference finals over the past 16 seasons.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the primary driver of the Thunder's offensive effort, recording 35 points to lead his team to victory. Chet Holmgren provided the decisive moment with a tiebreaking dunk with 32.8 seconds remaining, effectively ending any hope of a comeback for the visitors. The win improved the Thunder's postseason record to 8-0, highlighting their consistency throughout the tournament.
For the Lakers, the elimination came despite a valiant effort from LeBron James, who recorded 24 points and 14 rebounds in the final game of his 23rd season. James missed a potential game-winning shot with 20 seconds left, a moment that underscored the team's inability to capitalise on late opportunities. This marks the third consecutive year the franchise has failed to reach the conference finals.
The Lakers' campaign was significantly hampered by the absence of key personnel, including injured stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who missed significant portions of the season. Although Reaves scored 27 points, he missed a tying three-point attempt with eight seconds remaining. The team also lost six of their final seven playoff games, falling well short of their expectations after advancing one round further than anticipated.
Oklahoma City faced their toughest test of the postseason in Game 4, overcoming late deficits as the Lakers refused to fold. Rui Hachimura contributed nine of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including a four-point play that narrowed the gap late in the contest. Marcus Smart also drove the lane and hit a layup while being fouled in the final minute, briefly giving the Lakers a 110-109 lead before Holmgren's dunk sealed the outcome.
The Thunder will now open the conference finals against the winner of the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves series, both of whom are currently heading to Game 5. This series victory cements the Thunder's status as the dominant force in the West, having defeated the Lakers in all four regular-season matchups earlier in the year.
