Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander each scored 22 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 125-107 to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinal series, the report says.
Ajay Mitchell added 20 points and Jared McCain had 18 for the defending champion Thunder, who improved to 6-0 in the playoffs, per the report. The Lakers will host Game 3 on Saturday, the report says.
The Lakers were again without scoring champion Luka Doncic, who is out indefinitely with a strained left hamstring, and also missing forward Jarred Vanderbilt after he dislocated the pinkie finger on his right hand during the second quarter of Game 1, the report says. The Lakers had three players finish with five fouls, which limited their aggressiveness late in the game, per the report.
With the Lakers leading 63-61 early in the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander was tied up with Austin Reaves and initially called for his fourth foul; upon review it was upgraded to a flagrant 1 for a follow-through, the report says. Oklahoma City’s Alex Caruso was called for a technical foul as the situation was being sorted out, per the report.
Gilgeous-Alexander left with the Lakers up 65-61, but the Thunder rallied without him. On a fast break, Holmgren found Jaylin Williams, who hit a 3-pointer and was fouled; his ensuing free throw put Oklahoma City up 85-74, the report says. The Thunder outscored the Lakers 32-15 while Gilgeous-Alexander was out in the third quarter and led 93-80 entering the fourth, per the report.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves, who struggled with his shot in Game 1, scored 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting in Game 2, and LeBron James followed with 23, the report says. The Lakers cut the Thunder’s lead to five in the fourth before Oklahoma City pulled away again, per the report.
