In Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 115-110 on the road, completing a four-game sweep and advancing to the Western Conference Finals. The Thunder’s starting lineup featured Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Mitchell, Dort, Holmgren, and Hartenstein, while the Lakers countered with James, Reeves, Smart, Hachimura, and Ayton.
The first quarter saw both teams trade baskets, but Reeves struggled defensively as the Thunder scored three consecutive times off his matchup, forcing a Lakers timeout at 14-8. After the break, Los Angeles responded with a fast-break surge, hitting multiple three-pointers to take the lead and force Oklahoma City to call a timeout. James and Reeves ignited the offense, and the Lakers finished the first quarter up 26-21.
In the second quarter, the Thunder’s bench stepped up. Caruso hit two three-pointers, and Mitchell followed with a steal and a dunk, sparking an 8-0 run that forced a Lakers timeout. But the break did little to slow Oklahoma City. McCain drilled a three, Gilgeous-Alexander made free throws, and McCain added another basket, extending the run to 17-0 and giving the Thunder a 12-point lead. Smart and Reeves helped the Lakers claw back within four points, but Gilgeous-Alexander’s mid-range jumper stopped the momentum. Reeves drew fouls and made free throws to cut the deficit to 45-49 at halftime.
After the break, the Thunder turned up the intensity. The Lakers initially matched the scoring pace, but Oklahoma City’s defense stiffened. Reeves committed consecutive turnovers, and Gilgeous-Alexander, double-teamed, found Wallace for a three-pointer that pushed the lead to double digits, forcing another Lakers timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Reeves scored and assisted on a Hays alley-oop, James knocked down two threes, and Kennard added a triple, allowing the Lakers to take the lead heading into the fourth quarter.
In the final frame, the Lakers held a slim advantage early, but Mitchell and Gilgeous-Alexander combined for a scoring burst to erase the deficit and push the Thunder ahead by six. Hachimura responded with a three-point play, and Smart added an and-one, putting the Lakers up by one. Following a Thunder timeout, Hartenstein found Holmgren for a dunk to reclaim the lead. On the final possession, James drove on Caruso but missed the shot. Gilgeous-Alexander sank two free throws to make it a three-point game, and Reeves missed a potential game-tying three-pointer as time expired.
The Thunder sealed a 115-110 victory and the series 4-0 sweep. Here’s a breakdown of key performances:
**LeBron James Suffers Another Sweep – A Disheartening Record**
Trailing 0-3, the Lakers had no margin for error. James scored 10 points with 6 rebounds and 1 assist in the first half, and erupted in the third quarter to help the Lakers retake the lead. However, he went cold in the fourth and missed a critical shot on the final possession. Playing 40 minutes, James finished 8-of-18 from the field (2-of-6 on threes) and 8-of-10 from the foul line for 24 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block. This marks the fourth time in his career that his team has been swept in the playoffs, a dubious personal record.
**Reeves Misses Key Three-Pointer**
Reeves scored a team-high 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting in the first half, including 2-of-4 from deep and 3-of-4 from the line, along with 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks. But he committed five turnovers in the second half, although he continued to produce offensively. In the final seconds, his three-point attempt to tie the game came up short. Over 43 minutes, Reeves shot 8-of-16 (3-of-7 on threes) and 8-of-9 from the line, finishing with 27 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 blocks.
**Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Dominates Late with 35+8**
Gilgeous-Alexander was relatively quiet in the first half, with 14 points, 1 rebound, and 4 assists on 5-of-12 shooting. But when the Thunder needed him most in the fourth quarter, the MVP candidate stepped up. He attacked the Lakers’ defense and scored consistently, leading the comeback. Overall, he shot 11-of-22, 1-of-4 on threes, and 12-of-15 from the line, tallying 35 points, 8 assists, and 1 steal.
**Mitchell Erupts Again in the Fourth**
Thunder guard Mitchell had another career night. He scored 8 points on 4-of-6 shooting in the first half, added 10 points in the third quarter, and another 10 in the fourth. In 33 minutes, he shot 12-of-19, 1-of-4 on threes, and 3-of-3 from the line for 28 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. The 28-point performance set a new playoff career high.