SPORTS

Thunder rout Lakers, push Los Angeles to brink

PUBLISHED May 9, 2026, 11:37 PM ET

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Los Angeles — The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Los Angeles Lakers 131-108 on Saturday night in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinal, extending the Thunder's postseason unbeaten run to 7-0. Ajay Mitchell recorded career playoff highs with 24 points and 10 assists while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 23 points and nine assists. The Thunder's decisive third quarter, outscoring the Lakers 33-20 and opening with a 21-6 run, created a margin the Lakers could not close, pushing Los Angeles to the brink of elimination. Chet Holmgren contributed 18 points and nine rebounds; Game 4 is scheduled for Monday night in Los Angeles with the Thunder holding firm series momentum.

By Emily Rhodes | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

Thunder entered postseason as defending champions and held season edges over Lakers.
Thunder won the first two games of the series in Oklahoma.
Saturday night Game 3 in Los Angeles ended 131-108 in favor of the Thunder.
Thunder opened the third quarter with a 21-6 run and outscored Lakers 33-20 in that quarter.
Game 4 is scheduled for Monday night in Los Angeles with Lakers facing elimination pressure.

News Intelligence

If you're a Lakers fan, it's crunch time. Your team is on the brink of elimination and needs your support more than ever. If you're a Thunder fan, it's time to celebrate and rally for one more win. Either way, Monday night's game is a must-watch.

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Who Benefited

The Oklahoma City Thunder benefited most: the win extended their postseason unbeaten streak to 7-0, reinforced roster depth and bench production, and gave the franchise decisive momentum and control of the series heading into Game 4.

Who Impacted

The Los Angeles Lakers and their coaching staff suffered immediate consequences: they fell deeper into a series deficit, sustained multiple double-digit losses, and face elimination pressure that will intensify scrutiny on rotations and veteran performance.

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