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Thunder Roll Past Lakers to Take 2-0 Lead in West Semifinal

The result tightens the Thunder’s grip on their title defense heading into a tense Game 3 in Los Angeles.

Overview

  • Oklahoma City beat Los Angeles 125-107 in Game 2 on Thursday, pushing the series to 2-0 and extending the defending champions’ playoff start to 6-0.
  • A third‑quarter review upgraded Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander’s fourth foul to a flagrant‑1, yet the Thunder outscored the Lakers 32-15 while he sat for most of the period.
  • Gilgeous‑Alexander and Chet Holmgren led Oklahoma City with 22 points each as reserves Ajay Mitchell added 20 and Jaren McCain scored 18.
  • Austin Reaves scored 31 points and LeBron James had 23 for Los Angeles, which finished with three players on five fouls and struggled to keep pace late.
  • After the loss, coach JJ Redick and several Lakers criticized the officiating and cited an exchange with referee John Goble, even as free throws were close at 26-21 in Oklahoma City’s favor.