05/08/26 01:54:00
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05/08 01:52 CDT Holmgren and Gilgeous-Alexander each score 22 as Thunder take
2-0 lead over Lakers in West semis
Holmgren and Gilgeous-Alexander each score 22 as Thunder take 2-0 lead over
Lakers in West semis
By CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) --- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn't scoring the way he usually
does, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are still winning the way they normally do.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, averaged 31.1 points during the
regular season. In the Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles
Lakers, he's averaging 19 points and taking only 14 shots per game.
Oklahoma City has still won the first two games by an average of 18 points.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren each scored 22 points, and the defending
champion Thunder beat the Lakers 125-107 on Thursday night.
Ajay Mitchell, starting in place of injured Jalen Williams, is averaging 19
points on 50% shooting in the series for Oklahoma City.
"I think the coaching staff does a good job at just getting all of us ready,"
said Mitchell, a second-year guard. "And we have a lot of competitors. Like,
everyone's a competitor on our team. So every time the lights are bright,
everyone's ready to go."
Holmgren is the leading scorer for the Thunder in the best-of-seven series with
23 points per game. The 2026 All-Star also is averaging 10.5 rebounds and 2.5
blocks.
Jared McCain, a midseason acquisition from the Philadelphia 76ers, barely
played in the first round against Phoenix but has averaged 15 points and made 8
of 10 3-pointers in the series.
"He goes in there, stays in character, stays aggressive," Thunder coach Mark
Daigneault said. "He's going to shoot the next shot. He makes the right plays,
plays inside the team. He competes defensively, has had good defensive
possessions for us. And he was huge tonight. You need that in a playoff series."
The Lakers again were without scoring champion Luka Doncic, who is out
indefinitely with a strained left hamstring. They also were missing forward
Jarred Vanderbilt, the reserve forward who dislocated the pinkie on his right
hand during the second quarter of Game 1. The Lakers also had three players
finish with five fouls, limiting their aggressiveness late in the game.
Los Angeles guard Austin Reaves, who struggled with his shot in Game 1, scored
31 points on 10-for-16 shooting in Game 2. LeBron James, coming off a 27-point
effort in Game 1, followed that up with 23.
With the Lakers up 63-61 early in the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander got
tied up with Reaves and was called for his fourth foul. Upon review, it was
upgraded to a flagrant 1 for Gilgeous-Alexander's follow through. Oklahoma
City's Alex Caruso was called for a technical foul as the situation was being
sorted out.
Gilgeous-Alexander left the game with the Lakers up 65-61, but the Thunder
rallied and took control without him. On a fast break, Holmgren found a
trailing Jaylin Williams, who hit a 3-pointer and was fouled. His free throw
put the Thunder up 85-74.
The Thunder outscored the Lakers 32-15 while Gilgeous-Alexander was out in the
third quarter to take a 93-80 lead into the fourth.
"It was amazing," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "They strung together stops, they're
playing the right way offensively and things are going their way. Full
confidence in those guys. They know how to win basketball games. And we've
proven that. They've proven that no matter who's on the floor, they know how to
get the job done. And they just did it again tonight."
The Lakers cut Oklahoma City's lead to five in the fourth quarter before the
Thunder pulled away again.
Los Angeles will host Game 3 on Saturday.
"We just stuck with it," Holmgren said. "It's the game of basketball. It's not
always going to go your way. It's about how you respond. And this team has
proven many times that we know how to respond. And we did so tonight."
___
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