Thunder Handle Lakers in Game 1
Oklahoma City beat Los Angeles 108-90 in Game 1, using Chet Holmgren’s interior control, depth scoring, and a steady defense to expose the Luka-less Lakers.
Thunder Handle Lakers in Game 1
OKLAHOMA CITY, May 6, 2026 - The Thunder did not play a perfect Game 1. That may have been the most discouraging part for the Lakers.
Oklahoma City beat Los Angeles 108-90 on Tuesday night at Paycom Center, taking a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals behind Chet Holmgren's 24 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 18 points and six assists but also seven turnovers. Jalen Williams missed a third straight game with a left hamstring injury. The Thunder still won by 18.
Los Angeles played without Luka Doncic, who has missed the past month with a left hamstring injury, and the absence showed most clearly in the second half. LeBron James scored 27 on 12-for-17 shooting and Rui Hachimura added 18, but the Lakers scored only 37 points after halftime. Austin Reaves, so important to their regular-season offense, went 3-for-16 and missed all five of his threes.
Why Oklahoma City Won
The first half was competitive enough to keep the Lakers alive. Oklahoma City led 31-26 after one and 61-53 at halftime, but Los Angeles was still hanging around because LeBron kept finding points and Marcus Smart helped move the ball.
The second half was where the gap widened. The Thunder kept the Lakers under 20 points in both quarters, and the game slowly became a referendum on creation. Oklahoma City could survive SGA giveaways because Holmgren, Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Cason Wallace all supplied something useful. Los Angeles had LeBron, Hachimura, and then a lot of difficult possessions.
Holmgren was the cleanest player on the floor. He scored efficiently, finished 2-for-2 from three, did not commit a turnover, and gave Oklahoma City the interior presence it needed against a Lakers team trying to manufacture pressure without Doncic. Hartenstein added nine rebounds and four assists, and McCain's 4-for-5 night from three off the bench helped turn the Thunder's spacing into a constant problem.
Online reaction reflected the imbalance. Thunder fans treated it as a depth win, especially because SGA did not need to dominate. Lakers fans focused on Reaves' cold night, the missing Doncic engine, and the uncomfortable reality that LeBron had to do too much just to keep the offense functional.
NBA extended Game 1 highlights: Lakers at Thunder, May 5, 2026.
Box Score
Team Box Score
Final: Oklahoma City Thunder 108, Los Angeles Lakers 90
- Quarter scoring: Oklahoma City 31-30-23-24; Los Angeles 26-27-19-18. The Thunder won every quarter and squeezed the Lakers after halftime.
- Shooting: Oklahoma City 42-for-85 FG, 13-for-30 3P, 11-for-12 FT; Los Angeles 35-for-84 FG, 10-for-30 3P, 10-for-13 FT.
- Possession battle: Oklahoma City had 50 rebounds, 29 assists, 16 turnovers, and 7 blocks. Los Angeles had 46 rebounds, 26 assists, 18 turnovers, and 4 blocks.
- Series: Oklahoma City leads 1-0. Game 2 is Thursday in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City Thunder Leaders
- Chet Holmgren: 24 PTS, 12 REB, 3 BLK, 9-17 FG, 2-2 3P, 0 TO. The best player in Game 1.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 18 PTS, 6 AST, 2 BLK, 7 TO. Not his sharpest night, which says plenty about OKC's margin.
- Ajay Mitchell: 18 PTS, 4 AST, 7-16 FG.
- Jared McCain: 12 PTS, 4-5 3P off the bench.
- Isaiah Hartenstein: 8 PTS, 9 REB, 4 AST, 3-3 FG.
- Cason Wallace: 5 PTS, 4 REB, 3 STL.
Los Angeles Lakers Leaders
- LeBron James: 27 PTS, 4 REB, 6 AST, 12-17 FG. Efficient, but asked to carry too much creation.
- Rui Hachimura: 18 PTS, 2 REB, 7-13 FG, 3-6 3P.
- Marcus Smart: 12 PTS, 4 REB, 7 AST, 4 STL, 4-15 FG.
- Deandre Ayton: 10 PTS, 11 REB.
- Austin Reaves: 8 PTS, 5 REB, 6 AST, 3-16 FG, 0-5 3P. The miss-heavy line Los Angeles could not afford.
What It Means
The Lakers need Doncic back, but they also need more than that as an answer. Oklahoma City has already shown it can win this matchup with SGA playing below his cleanest level. That means Los Angeles has to reduce turnovers, get Reaves downhill earlier, and find easier offense before the Thunder defense gets set.
For Oklahoma City, the win was a statement of control rather than fireworks. Holmgren looked ready for the matchup, the bench spacing traveled, and the defending champions opened the series without needing their best offensive version. That is a nice place to be in May.